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Home > Sports News > Cricket News > Article > Sabella wants Messi to enjoy his game

Sabella wants Messi to enjoy his game

Updated on: 06 September,2011 09:47 AM IST  | 
AFP |

Argentina national team coach Alejandro Sabella wants his star player Lionel Messi to play freely and enjoy every moment of his game as that will eventually result in success for the team

Sabella wants Messi to enjoy his game

Argentina national team coach Alejandro Sabella wants his star player Lionel Messi to play freely and enjoy every moment of his game as that will eventually result in success for the team





Smiling assassin: Lionel Messi during a Barcelona training session.
Pic/Getty Images


Messi has been the key figure to Barcelona's astounding success in the past few seasons, but he has failed to show the same kind of form for his country. "We must let him be happy. We must let him play freely on the pitch," Sabella, 56, said at a press conference after arriving here for the second leg of the side's short South Asian tour. The new coach said he has a good relationship with Messi, who was named captain ahead of the two friendlies, one in India against Venezuela last week and the second in Bangladesh on Tuesday against Nigeria. Argentina won the first match in Kolkata 1-0, with a Messi corner setting up the goal for Nicolas Otamendi.

Sabella said Messi would repeat his prolific scoring feats at Barcelona for Argentina once he had settled in as national captain. "I am waiting for him to score. We must give him the tranquility. He is the best player in the world," Sabella said, as his side prepares for World Cup 2014 qualifiers next month.

Argentina disappointed fans in the Copa America in July when they lost to eventual winners Uruguay in the quarter-finals. The Copa failure cost Sergio Batista his job as coach.

Sabella would not reveal his team for Tuesday's game in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka but said the side had no grudge against the opposition, who beat Argentina's second team 4-1 in Nigeria in June.

"I don't think revenge is a good word. It's not good for human beings. It's not good for anyone. It's a football game and we'll try to win," he said.

"It's a different game...A different country... A neutral country. We don't have too much time to prepare. I am a new coach. I just got to know all the players and the players started knowing me," he added.

English newspaper The Guardian has reported that the world soccer body FIFA was probing heavy betting on a late goal being scored in the game in June, where Nigeria took on an under-strength Argentina. Nigeria won the match 4-1, but Argentina scored from a contested penalty in the eighth-minute of injury time.

Messi's arrival in Bangladesh ufffd which has never hosted top-class international football beforeu00a0-- drew scores of fans wearing Argentine jerseys to the airport while many others camped outside the team hotel. But fans have grievances about the unaffordable ticket price of $100 to get into the 24,000-capacity Bangabandhu National Stadium.

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