Diego Simeone has hit out at Lionel Messi and suggested the Barcelona star cannot raise his game in an average team the way Cristiano Ronaldo can after Argentina’s shock defeat to Croatia.
Argentina are on the brink of an early World Cup exit after a 3-0 loss to Croatia and Messi could not help his team with a win.
Messi’s performance was far off the heights he was known with Barcelona and the forward’s display was in contrast to Ronaldo’s superb performance for Portugal.
Despite Portugal lacking quality, Ronaldo has led from the front well, scoring four goals in just two games.
Simeone is Argentinian himself and his furious comments in a Whatsapp message were leaked by Cadena COPE.
‘Messi is very good but that is because he is accompanied by excellent players,’ Simenoe said speaking to his assistant.
‘But if you had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo for a normal team, who would you choose?’
Simeone watched the match and not only slammed Messi, but Jorge Sampaoli has come under fire for his tactics.
Sampaoli decided to play three at the back against Croatia despite playing with a back four in Argentina’s first World Cup game.
Argentina have been poor in their two games, scoring just one goal and with elimination staring the two-time World Cup winners in the face, Simeone believes the entire set-up is to blame.
‘What we saw against Croatia is the picture of what has happened over the past four years,’ he said.
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‘It is anarchy. There is no leadership, either from the coach, who should be leading, or the players, who should be led. The team is lost, it is wrong.’
