Scaloni: As football lovers we have to enjoy Lionel Messi

Scaloni: As football lovers we have to enjoy Lionel Messi

Messi Scaloni / | sport

The Argentina coach spoke after his team reached the semi-finals

Lionel Scaloni hailed Lionel Messi as the best player of all time after Argentina’s 3-0 win over Ecuador.

“The best thing that can happen to football lovers is enjoying Messi. I hope he plays for many more years, even the opponents enjoy it when they face him. He’s the best of all time.

“He who thinks you can win all games easily is mistaken. The games are hard, you play to the limit. All the players give the most they can until the end and as a coach it fills me with pride. We are at a decisive moment and we’ll try to work with humility moving forward.”

Asked about his second Copa America semi-final as Argentina coach, against Colombia on Wednesday, he said: “It’s a very hard cup and there’s a good level. To get to the semis you have to play to win all your games. Someone always wins it, but we have made it clear the process is the important thing.

“We faced Colombia recently, they are a hard opponent, with lots of fine players. We want to play with the same intensity, the same desire.”