Scaloni: Nico Paz is very important to us; our full-back depth is satisfactory

Argentina secured a dominant 4-0 victory at home against Bolivia in a friendly match. Following the match, Argentina coach Scaloni attended a press conference to answer questions from the media. Below is the second part of that press conference.

Hello, Lionel. I have two questions. First, without Leo (Messi), will there be significant tactical rotation after Tuesday? You have many tactical plans to test in the upcoming matches. Second, how do you assess the young backup player Flores? His courage is truly striking—he dares to dribble and change direction, tackle opponents directly, and came close to scoring. How do you see the value he brings for the team's generational transition? In Argentine football today, wingers with such exceptional dribbling and penetrating ability are rare.

Regarding your first question, at this stage we're focusing more on evaluating individual players than on tactical systems, because our existing tactical system is already well-established. We've experimented with different formations at times, but that's not our main focus. What's most important now is giving more young players opportunities to be evaluated. Whether it's 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, we'll see. Actually, when Julián and Lautaro play together up front, they bring considerable depth and dynamism. Their movement is very flexible—Julián can drop deep to play as an inside forward or midfielder, or drift wide. The system is quite adaptable.

We'll certainly evaluate more players, especially since we'll face a very strong opponent on Saturday. They're a strong African team that has posed significant problems for many top sides. It will be a very valuable test of our strength. As for that young player, as I mentioned earlier in the press conference, our only requirement for newcomers to the young national team is that they play with the same intensity they show at their clubs. He plays like that at his club, and we'd be very concerned if he came to the national team and became timid or afraid to express himself. He needs to stay true to his style because he excels in it. But we must protect him—that's paramount. At his age, he's vulnerable to external pressure and needs careful guidance and a mature environment to develop properly.

At Boca Juniors, there are coaches like Basile and Marchi, who are old friends of mine and know how to develop and guide him correctly. He's a rare talent, and we must nurture him the way we nurture Mastantuono. Their ages are similar, though outsiders often think Mastantuono shows maturity well beyond his years. We must be patient with these young players—that's the only way they'll develop in the future. We absolutely cannot expect them to replicate an outstanding ten-minute performance in every match; that's unrealistic. We need to stay calm for him, for Mastantuono, and for Nico Paz. They're all assets to Argentine football, and our coaching staff will do everything to protect them.

Good evening, Lionel. Congratulations on the team's victory! In what's being called the "post-Messi era," while the team has a group of experienced and accomplished veterans, many talented young stars have also emerged, like Nico Paz. What role will Nico Paz play in the structure of the future national team? Also, regarding your future as a coach, what's the status of your contract extension?

Nico's role is very important, just like Mastantuono's, Pellistri's, and all the other young talent who are emerging and knocking on the national team door. It's difficult for me to predict his exact role proportionally in the future, but he's previously trained with the team, spent considerable time with the national squad, and maintained impressive standards in European football. He brings different tactical characteristics from Mastantuono. Mastantuono is sharper and more penetrating, with technical qualities that lean toward a winger or attacking midfielder; Nico is more of an attacking midfielder, playing behind the striker, though he can also play wide—but his technical style is quite different. Having both of them is an asset to the team, and we're very pleased. As for my personal future, there are no new developments from yesterday to today; the situation remains the same as it was yesterday.

Hello, Lionel. I'd like to follow up on my colleague's question. Regarding our hope that you continue to serve the national team, what factors matter most to you? Is it motivation? After achieving so much, where do you find the drive to continue? Or do you also consider the risks involved in bearing this responsibility? In any case, the upcoming World Cup may be somewhat unique, with over 60 teams participating and a qualifying format that's quite unusual.

As a coach, when you're coaching, you never calculate the potential risks. If you're always thinking about risks, you can't succeed in this job. Instead, you're always thinking about the positive aspects, the motivation that wells up within you. When you see these passionate young players take the field, when you see the spark in their eyes as they step onto the pitch, that sensation is the best source of motivation. So, let's wait and see how things develop.

Lionel, welcome to Córdoba. Regarding the much-discussed squad changes, I'd like to ask about the full-back position. Today we saw Jaim and Vega start, and then Simón also came on. Beyond the generational change in key attacking positions, how do you view the renewal process at the crucial full-back position? In modern football tactics, full-backs play a very important role, and in European football, they're even given responsibilities comparable to attacking midfielders. Is Argentina actively looking for more backup options in this area?

Today, Román Vega played, Agustín Jaim played, and then Santiago Simón also got an opportunity. Molina is currently suspended, and although Gonzalo Montiel wasn't called this time, he's always in our consideration; they're all key players who've made significant contributions in the past. In my view, our full-back depth is satisfactory. Particularly on the right flank, we have considerable personnel depth. On the left flank, with Román Vega's emergence, he's been given an excellent platform to showcase himself. Tagliafico is also in the squad, and we hope he can recover fully for the upcoming matches. Additionally, Facundo Medina can also play on the left. So in terms of personnel depth, we have a fully reliable squad, and that's the most crucial guarantee.

Lionel, looking ahead, with so many top players and so many tactical options available to you, with every player performing brilliantly when they step onto the field, is this becoming something of a "good problem"? Also, regarding tonight's match, without mentioning each individual, could you pick one player who impressed you most?

No, quite the opposite—this is not a problem at all. Having so many talented and capable players available is a source of immense pride and joy; this is exactly the situation we've always dreamed of. With an abundance of quality players to choose from, the only challenge is deciding on the final tournament squad, but that's a hundred times better than not having players available. Many coaches often worry about insufficient squad depth and limited resources. I prefer to face this challenge of abundant options, and decisions about who makes the squad can be weighed at the crucial moment. As for individual performances tonight, I'm very satisfied with the team's overall performance and don't want to single out any one player for praise. Especially our experienced veterans like Lautaro, Julián, and Cuti Romero, Lisandro Martínez, and Mac Allister—their professionalism in the match is exemplary. They have every right to say, "We've won the World Cup and Copa América, we can take it easy," but they showed no complacency on the pitch. This sets the best example for the younger generation; this kind of teaching by example is even more powerful than tactical instructions on the coaching board. As long as the veterans maintain this competitive hunger, the young players will naturally follow without hesitation.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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