04:28Reigning World and South American champions Argentina held a final training session in Buenos Aires on Monday ahead of their World Cup qualifying clash with Bolivia on Tuesday.
Footage taken in the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training facility in Ezeiza shows Leo Messi and other players performing warm-up routines and training drills before head coach Lionel Scaloni provided an update on preparations at a press conference.
"As we always think, regardless of who we have up front, we have the utmost respect and we are doing well, they have been winning often and a change of coach has helped them and they have players with good feet, who can play. We cannot be complacent under any circumstances," said Lionel Scaloni.
"We have to be prepared for that and ready that they do not only come to defend because it is a team that also comes out quickly on the counter, it has its weapons and we study them, we have to be attentive because it is a rival to take into account," he added.
Discussing Messi's importance to the team, Scaloni acknowledged 'almost everything goes through him', as a player who can 'determine' the outcome of matches. However, the coach insisted his team can still function without its talismanic leader.
"Our idea, our football concept does not change depending on who is on the field, we already have a way of playing and in the face of absences I think we always try with some nuances to play the same way," he declared.
After a 1-1 draw with Venezuela, which Messi described as 'ugly' and blamed on a heavy pitch, the world champions are aiming for 3 points but are unlikely to find the Bolivians a pushover.
"Our rivals want to beat us and it is to be expected. On the other hand, it has always been like that, I do not think it has been magnified," the coach noted.
Scaloni believes Inter Milan Captain Lautaro Martinez should be in the running for this year's Ballon d’Or. "He has had a spectacular year, he scored the goal in the final, he was the top scorer in the cup and he deserves it more than anyone else," he stated.
The Argentinian manager reached his 80th game in charge, surpassing the record set by Carlos Bilardo and Cesar Menotti.
‘We cannot be complacent’ - Argentina's Albiceleste aiming for Bolivia win after frustrating draw with Venezuela
Reigning World and South American champions Argentina held a final training session in Buenos Aires on Monday ahead of their World Cup qualifying clash with Bolivia on Tuesday.
Footage taken in the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training facility in Ezeiza shows Leo Messi and other players performing warm-up routines and training drills before head coach Lionel Scaloni provided an update on preparations at a press conference.
"As we always think, regardless of who we have up front, we have the utmost respect and we are doing well, they have been winning often and a change of coach has helped them and they have players with good feet, who can play. We cannot be complacent under any circumstances," said Lionel Scaloni.
"We have to be prepared for that and ready that they do not only come to defend because it is a team that also comes out quickly on the counter, it has its weapons and we study them, we have to be attentive because it is a rival to take into account," he added.
Discussing Messi's importance to the team, Scaloni acknowledged 'almost everything goes through him', as a player who can 'determine' the outcome of matches. However, the coach insisted his team can still function without its talismanic leader.
"Our idea, our football concept does not change depending on who is on the field, we already have a way of playing and in the face of absences I think we always try with some nuances to play the same way," he declared.
After a 1-1 draw with Venezuela, which Messi described as 'ugly' and blamed on a heavy pitch, the world champions are aiming for 3 points but are unlikely to find the Bolivians a pushover.
"Our rivals want to beat us and it is to be expected. On the other hand, it has always been like that, I do not think it has been magnified," the coach noted.
Scaloni believes Inter Milan Captain Lautaro Martinez should be in the running for this year's Ballon d’Or. "He has had a spectacular year, he scored the goal in the final, he was the top scorer in the cup and he deserves it more than anyone else," he stated.
The Argentinian manager reached his 80th game in charge, surpassing the record set by Carlos Bilardo and Cesar Menotti.
Reigning World and South American champions Argentina held a final training session in Buenos Aires on Monday ahead of their World Cup qualifying clash with Bolivia on Tuesday.
Footage taken in the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training facility in Ezeiza shows Leo Messi and other players performing warm-up routines and training drills before head coach Lionel Scaloni provided an update on preparations at a press conference.
"As we always think, regardless of who we have up front, we have the utmost respect and we are doing well, they have been winning often and a change of coach has helped them and they have players with good feet, who can play. We cannot be complacent under any circumstances," said Lionel Scaloni.
"We have to be prepared for that and ready that they do not only come to defend because it is a team that also comes out quickly on the counter, it has its weapons and we study them, we have to be attentive because it is a rival to take into account," he added.
Discussing Messi's importance to the team, Scaloni acknowledged 'almost everything goes through him', as a player who can 'determine' the outcome of matches. However, the coach insisted his team can still function without its talismanic leader.
"Our idea, our football concept does not change depending on who is on the field, we already have a way of playing and in the face of absences I think we always try with some nuances to play the same way," he declared.
After a 1-1 draw with Venezuela, which Messi described as 'ugly' and blamed on a heavy pitch, the world champions are aiming for 3 points but are unlikely to find the Bolivians a pushover.
"Our rivals want to beat us and it is to be expected. On the other hand, it has always been like that, I do not think it has been magnified," the coach noted.
Scaloni believes Inter Milan Captain Lautaro Martinez should be in the running for this year's Ballon d’Or. "He has had a spectacular year, he scored the goal in the final, he was the top scorer in the cup and he deserves it more than anyone else," he stated.
The Argentinian manager reached his 80th game in charge, surpassing the record set by Carlos Bilardo and Cesar Menotti.