With the departure of Argentina's captain, the team enters a new era, and retaining the head coach becomes the top priority. Ole believes that keeping Lionel Scaloni is the best solution for Argentina at this moment.

So what now? What will Argentina be like without Messi? Who will be the new leader? Who will wear the captain's armband? Who will wear the number 10 shirt that belonged to Maradona and Messi? Who will be the commander to carry dreams, hopes, and magic, leading the familiar players to celebration alongside him? Messi's departure is undoubtedly a historic turning point, a dividing line in Argentina's history, much like the period after Maradona. But amid these questions, another crucial one emerges: what about the other Leo—Leo the head coach?

Lionel Scaloni told Ole after losing the final to Spain: "I will manage the team until December, and then I will talk with the president (Claudio Tapia). My idea is to rest, to rest." These words were once seen as major news before the controversy surrounding retiring the number 10 shirt emerged. This might have been easier to predict, but knowing something might happen and it actually happening are entirely different, and the shockwaves from this news are far greater.

Because without captain Leo, Argentina will not be the same. Moreover, if the other Leo—the head coach—also leaves, the situation becomes even more complicated. Ultimately, when you strip it down to the simplest terms: without the architect, this team will no longer be "Scaloneta." At that point, it's almost a complete restart, as if everything must begin anew.

Of course, supposing a team-building process occurs without a captain or head coach, Argentina still possesses the core group of World Cup winners and runners-up, which keeps the situation far from the black hole it was after the 2018 World Cup. At that time, Argentina built one of the most successful periods in its history from the ruins of failure in Russia. But it is clear that with Lionel Scaloni at the helm of this formula, things would be different. The outlook would be more optimistic, and there would be fewer wounds.

For this reason, especially after Messi's departure, retaining Lionel Scaloni becomes the top priority. As the coach noted, his contract ends in December. He still has two international break windows before then to manage the team, with fairly tight schedules in September and October, and another in November. In fact, before the first training camp after the World Cup, he should announce the preliminary squad next Sunday, and captain Messi will no longer appear on that list.

What is certain is that after losing the final to Spain and after making those nearly definitive statements, Lionel Scaloni's attitude has softened. While he has not expressed any hopes, what is certain is that now, with adequate rest, a fresh start, and time to think, external judgments about his future may change. Even from the latest signals, there are more positives than negatives.

Lionel Scaloni once said: "The position I'm in right now is a dream position. When I leave, I will be sad." This is his genuine feeling about the Argentina head coach position, and it remains so. In fact, he would prefer to stay with Argentina rather than manage a big club and face the daily pressure and media he is unfamiliar with. He still enjoys his current life, returning to Mardel during every break, cycling on the island, and doing other things he loves in this world. If he were to manage a club, these things would not be possible as often as they are now.

Therefore, within his circle, it is believed that the coach is willing to stay with Argentina. However, to achieve this goal, the economic terms of a new contract must be met, including care for his coaching staff, and there must be agreement on a sporting plan. But there is little doubt about this, as the general direction of the future is already clear.

In fact, Lionel Scaloni knows the path ahead. He initiated and stabilized the most difficult transition period in Argentine football history, and to some extent, paved the way for the next stage. Although Messi's departure is highly likely, given that he is 39 years old and the decision was foreseeable, Scaloni must still wait to see what happens with leaders like Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes, who are pillars in the team-building process.

He will no longer have Nicolás Otamendi, who confirmed his retirement from Argentina after the World Cup. As for Emiliano Martínez, he once expressed doubts about his future with the national team, but he still has records to chase at Argentina's goal and remains motivated. He is facing new challenges at Chelsea, which will energize him as well.

However, Lionel Scaloni still has a strong core group consisting of Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Enzo, Alexis, Lautaro, and Julián. He continues to bring in younger players, including Nico Paz, Julián Simeone, Barco, Leao Balderrama, Máximo Perrone, Agustín Giay, Santiago Beltrán, Tomás Aránda, Huaquin Freitas, Suárez, Valentín Carboni, Garnacho, and Mastantuono, who represent Argentina's next generation. For them, Lionel Scaloni has reason to rely on them and hope that another chapter of his work comes to fruition.

So although there is no dialogue between the two parties at this time, and both maintain the necessary respect and discretion, Messi's news will undoubtedly open a new chapter for Scaloneta's future. Because now that there is no other Leo, Argentina cannot afford to lose another one.

แปลโดย AI

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