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Argentina captain Lionel Messi has explained why his team was poor against Venezuela in their World Cup qualifier
Lionel Messi has attributed Argentina's underwhelming 1-1 draw against Venezuela to the poor pitch conditions at Estadio Monumental de Maturín.
Despite Nicolas Otamendi’s opener, Venezuela's Salomon Rondon equalised in the second half, leaving Argentina to settle for a point.
Messi blames the pitch for Venezuela draw
In their first World Cup qualifier of the October international window, heavy rain impacted the field, making it difficult for Argentina to execute their game plan.
Speaking to TyC Sports after the game, Messi expressed frustration over the soaked pitch, describing the match as "ugly."
He explained that the waterlogged field made it nearly impossible for Argentina to string together passes and play their usual style.
“It was very difficult, it makes for very ugly matches," Messi said. "We could not complete two passes in a row. In the second half we did it on the right a little more, but it is difficult to play like that. Very little is played.
“We tied because the field didn’t help us do what we wanted. We had to play a different game than the one we prepared for.”
Messi celebrates return to Argentina following injury
This match marked Messi’s return to international duty after a two-month absence due to an ankle injury sustained in July.
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The Argentina captain had missed several games for both Inter Miami and his national team, making his comeback even more anticipated.
While Messi was eager to get back on the field, the draw left him unsatisfied. The Inter Miami star highlighted how the adverse conditions forced Argentina to adapt and take fewer risks. “We couldn’t risk much by playing with passes to the back," he noted. "The water would stop the ball and complicate it.”
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Now, Messi and Argentina will look to regroup as they prepare to face Bolivia in Buenos Aires for their next World Cup qualifier.
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