Mascherano: “Xavi needs time, but he is capable of lifting Barça”

Javier Mascherano announced his retirement from football a little over a year ago and the opportunity to train has already arrived. The ‘Jefecito’ will be in charge of the Argentina U-20 team starting in January. Meanwhile, the former Barça player was enjoying the 2021 Arab Cup final in Qatar. Attended AS and other means of dealing with the Next year’s World Cup, the future of the Argentine National Team, the career of Leo messi with the national team and Xavi’s arrival at Barça.

Xavi landed at Barça in November and his start, as could be expected, has not been easy at all. But nevertheless, Mascherano is clear that he is the right man to lift the team in which he was more than seven seasons: “He is more than capable of resuscitating Barça and taking him back to the top. They are not at their best, but I have no doubt that he will improve with him. We must also give him a little time.”

Mascherano played more than 300 games with the Barcelona shirt and is convinced that Xavi is the right one due to his knowledge of the environment: “He knows the club like few others. Barcelona is such a special club that it is essential to know and understand its philosophy to train. It is not just any club. Xavi is also more than enough to do great things.” About his stage in Qatar, the Argentine highlighted the good taste in his mouth that he left in the Middle Eastern country: “Qatar opened the doors for him to give him his first chance as a coach and he showed a lot. They were very happy with him because of the way the team played. He has done a lot of things and very good with Al Sadd.”

Messi and the role of Scaloni in the Argentine National Team

The Qatar World Cup could be the last for Leo Messi, who would arrive at the age of 39 in 2026. However, ‘Masche’ doesn’t take it for granted: “Who knows if it will be his last World Cup. That will be decided by him. Messi has achieved incredible things throughout his career and continues to achieve them. He does not try to compare himself with anyone, he just goes his way.”

The role of the ’10’ in the selection is vital for Mascherano, who hopes he can lift the World Cup to the sky of Doha: “For Argentines it is a privilege and honor that he can play for us. And above all a security. Hopefully it goes in the best way and he can finish crowning, it is what all Argentines want. But he has no need of any kind. prove anything. If it happens (to win the World Cup), hopefully it will happen for him. Nobody deserves it other than him. “

The success of Scaloni in the national team he has been the subject of praise in recent months. Asked about what the coach has done to win again, Mascherano has it clear: “There are many players who are exclusive hits for Scaloni. They are bets that he has made, but above all he took the pressure off the group. We had just lost many finals and he gave the players the freedom and tranquility to play without fluency. And when not they push themselves and let go, they end up generating important things. “

Regarding the withdrawal of Kun Agüero, he highlighted his positivism and the good atmosphere that he always generated in the dressing room: “He was as good on as he was off the pitch. If he has something, it is that he has always generated a very good atmosphere within the group with his way of being so cheerful. Regardless of whether he played or not. It is not easy for a star like him not starting from the beginning. He was always available to the team and did not put a bad face. “

The one in Qatar, a special World Cup and something different

The countdown to the Qatar 2022 World Cup It has already started and the teams are already starting to prepare for an appointment that will be different. It will be played from November 21 to December 18, in the middle of the season, but Mascherano assures that it will not be a disadvantage for the players: “For the footballer it will be beneficial. He will arrive fresh, with the rhythm of the game. It is within the season. Perhaps, if I put myself in the shoes of the coach, he will have less time to prepare the team. However Nowadays the teams are used to it. When they play qualifying heats, they prepare the matches with 3-4 days. “

The Argentine was witnessing the final of the Arab Cup and sees Qatar prepared to host the World Cup: “The Cup was an important logistical test to see how the fans are received. It has worked well and they have seen some games with a full stadium. They will surely try to improve small things, but in general the feeling is that they are almost all the conditions given so that the World Cup can be played. “

He was finally asked about the difference between the European and American teams and the distance between them: “The statistics show that Europe has made a difference to the South Americans. In the World Cup in Russia the difference was noticed a little more, but previously Argentina was in the final, Uruguay in the semifinals … in the end there was always a South American scratching a bit”. However, he is positive and believes that the level of the Scaloni group invites optimism: “This year it was possible to see the Eurocopa and the Copa América at the same time and, seeing the level that Argentina had during the Cup, is in a position to compete with the European powers. When it comes to competing, the conditions are there. Europe has dominated lately and hopefully this can end in Qatar. “