Rodrigo De Paul revealed what the squad felt after Messi’s injury in the final of the Copa América 2024

Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul gave an interview on Thursday in which he spoke, among other topics, about the recent consecration of the Argentina National Team in the Copa América in the United States 2024. In a chat with the program “Soné que volaba”, which is part of the popular streaming channel Olga, the midfielder recalled the moment in which captain Lionel Messi was injured during the final of the continental tournament against Colombia. “When he comes out, obviously something happened, right in this match. They focus on him on the stadium screen crying and we saw him on the field.” And he added: “In general, what the big screen does is mark time. It’s kind of atypical that they put that (because of the shot of Messi crying). There was a total shouting for the image and we saw it. There we said: ‘It’s because of him.’ There was little left, one was tired. The game plan is already a little in the background. I feel like it was because of him there.” On the other hand, de Paul referred to how the Argentine National Team is viewed: “Whoever wins is always looking for something. Or if they help us, or if we carry it, if it is not such a good national team, or that South America is less than Europe. All those things that are said to discredit what one did.” In addition, he reflected: “We never spoke before. For us the European Championship is incredible, the best players play in the World Cup… One from Colombia before the match said that Messi and ‘Fideo’ (Di María) were no longer the same, that they were big.” Finally, he revealed: “When the final was over, Messi came and the first thing he said was ‘nobody carries anyone, let’s celebrate and enjoy what is ours'”.De Paul referred to the controversy over the racist chants that were heard in a live performance by Enzo FernándezThe midfielder of the Argentine National Team Rodrigo de Paul defended Enzo Fernández for the accusations he received in recent days. I think that if any of your colleagues feel offended, the way is to call him, not put him on a social network,” he said. One does not analyze the court song so much, one does it more in relation to a chicane.
Then you can understand people who have suffered racism and who don’t like it,” added Fernandez.This situation brought several problems to Fernandez even at Chelsea, the team in which he plays, since several of his teammates stopped following him on social networks. “Doing that seems like farting to me. You call him and tell him ‘this is not going on, why don’t you put a message apologizing?’, and the issue is cut there, not to do so much show,” said De Paul.

Original source in Spanish