France defender, Samuel Umtiti believes Lionel Messi cannot be expected to recreate his Barcelona performances in a very different set-up with Argentina.
He also stated he doesn’t have same players in Argentina as one of the reason.
Samuel Umtiti responded to the critics of his Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.
Umtiti has pointed out that Messi cannot single-handedly inspire a misfiring team,
“Messi is different. He can’t play the same way with Argentina and Barcelona. He doesn’t have the same players, even though in Argentina they have very good players. It’s completely different with Barcelona; it’s a different playing style,”
“I still think he saved them some times. When they were very close to losing, he often was there. This is when you must worry about Leo. The Argentinians are tough with him. I understand because of all his qualities, but he can’t do everything on his own,” he added.
Umtiti was surprised by Messi’s mindset upon arriving at Camp Nou, immediately recognising that the Argentina man is constantly striving for more.
“I really feel that he doesn’t live football like others do – in the way he sees it, in the choices he makes and in the goals he scores. He just keeps scoring goals after goals. He has it in him. He doesn’t like losing. He always wants to win games and titles. I didn’t expect that from him because he already won everything. It’s his state of mind,” Umtiti concluded.
Argentina finds themselves in a far from an enviable position. With their coach effectively powerless, it’s Messi who will lead the team right from the front. They will play France next, a team who themselves have struggled to get going on the pitch.
If Messi picks the right team, a quarter-final appearance is not beyond Argentina. The two Camp Nou stars will go head to head on Saturday when Argentina face France in the last 16.