Javier Aguirre, Mallorca’s Mexican coach, praised Leo Messi on Tuesday, captain of the world champion Argentina team against France in Qatar: “Messi can now sit at the table of the greats,” Aguirre said at the press conference ahead of the Copa del Rey match against Real Unión de Irún.
Aguirre mentioned footballers of the stature of Alfredo Di Estefano and Pelé. “The one I didn’t see live,” he admitted.I played against (Johan) Cruyff, (Franz) Beckenbuer, (Michel) Platini, Zico, and (Diego) Maradona. I saw him do amazing things, just like Messi. It’s not fair to put one above the other. The Argentines were lucky with two, and the annoying thing, the one I liked the most on the field was Cruyff,” said the former coach of the Mexico team with a smile.
“Messi is the best at the moment, in the last years”he added.
“He and Cristiano (Ronaldo) have marked the course and it is a luxury facing them. I am privileged to have enjoyed and experienced them. This is the culmination of all the efforts that Lio has made in his career. I am sending you a personal greeting because I really appreciate it. He is a very modest boy, I wish him the best, and yes, put the headline ‘Messi can now sit at the table of the greats'”, summed up Aguirre.
He also answered a question about his colleague Leo Scaloni, coach of the Argentine national team: “He came to show that it is true that experience is a degree, but it’s also true that doing well can be achieved, even if it’s your first football experience. I feel he was able to make a team,” he said.
“He got the great figure Lio Messi to work for the team”, continuous. “He brought together important, talented people around him and they played as a team. And that’s the job of coaches. Leo (Scaloni) broke the schemes and I think it’s incredible , he has been a coach for many years and I hope we can enjoy him. a lot”.
Regarding whether the Argentina-France final was the best in the history of the World Cups, Javier Aguirre said yes, “but from the modern era”, he qualified.
“I remember the 1970 final between Brazil 4 and Italy 1 and it was amazing, but only the Brazilian team. When I was young, I saw the 1966 England-Germany final in black and white, where the English won in extra time 4-2. But perhaps from this modern era, I think it has been the most attractive for the viewer, with football figures like Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappé, one emerging and another not at all declining. It would be disrespectful because Messi said they want to continue playing, and he has the football for it. I congratulate the two teams because they played a match of the fans”, said Javier Aguirre
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
