Messi Expresses Frustration Over Poor Pitch Conditions in Argentina’s 1-1 Draw Against Venezuela
Lionel Messi voiced his displeasure regarding the playing conditions at the Estadio Monumental de Maturin after Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela on Thursday. The match was initially delayed by heavy rain, which left the pitch waterlogged and made it difficult for players to perform.
Despite Argentina registering eight shots compared to Venezuela’s 16, they took the lead in the first half with a goal from Nicolas Otamendi. However, Salomon Rondon equalized for Venezuela in the 65th minute, leaving Messi and his teammates frustrated.
Messi did not hold back in his criticism of the pitch, stating, “It was very difficult; it makes for very ugly matches. We could not complete two passes in a row.” He noted that while Argentina managed to adapt their play somewhat in the second half, the conditions severely hindered their performance.
Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the poor pitch conditions prevented both teams from playing proper football. Messi acknowledged that the team had to adjust their tactics due to the waterlogged field, which ultimately affected their game plan.
“We tied because the field didn’t help us do what we wanted,” Messi explained. “We had to play a different game than the one we prepared for.” He highlighted the challenges posed by the waterlogged pitch, which disrupted their passing game.
Despite the draw, Argentina remains at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying group with 19 points after nine matches, extending their lead following Colombia’s defeat in Bolivia. However, coach Lionel Scaloni also criticized the pitch conditions, stating, “It did not meet the minimal conditions for a football game. You couldn’t play.”
In summary, both Messi and Scaloni expressed their frustration over the unsuitable playing conditions, which impacted the quality of the match and Argentina’s performance.
