"I knew the Dibu was going to save at least one"

Lionel Messi said after qualifying for the Copa America semi-final that despite missing his penalty in the shootout, he was convinced that "Dibu' (Emiliano Martinez) was at least going to save one".

"It's always reassuring to have him in these moments. He has a lot of confidence, a lot of faith that he was going to get one. He likes it, he enjoys it, he lives it. Even though I was angry at having missed, with 'Dibu' we are calm. He's getting bigger in these moments," he said in the mixed zone at Houston's NRG Stadium.

Messi, who made his return after missing the Peru game, said he felt good. "I'm fine. I didn't feel any discomfort and I was able to finish the game," said the captain, who again complained about the state of the pitches.

"It's a reality that the pitches are not good," he said, while giving value to the game played by Ecuador. "We knew that the match was going to be like this, that they were going to be a very difficult opponent. Ecuador is an intense opponent and the pitch didn't help us to play much, but the important thing is that we got through," he added. 

 

July 5, 2024