YOU WON’T TRY FOR ME, ARGENTINA Sampaoli is a victim of player power and Messi & Co may have to pick their own side for must-win match
JORGE SAMPAOLI will be in the dugout for Argentina’s do-or-die clash against Nigeria tonight – even though he might not pick the team.
The players are understood to have gone over his head to general manager Jorge Burruchaga after last
week’s 3-0 defeat by Croatia. Burruchaga will consult the players over team selection while Sampaoli admitted sparks flew at a crisis meeting behind the scenes.
The Chilean said: “When there’s a defeat, of course there are complaints and people argue with each other. That happens everywhere I have worked at.
“In the real world, face to face, there is no need for phone calls or messages, you need to find solutions for the good of the team.”
Argentina must win tonight and hope Iceland get nothing out of their game against a weakened Croatia side.
Sampaoli has been heavily criticised for his side’s poor form and his over-reliance on star man Lionel Messi.
He added: “Sometimes people make you feel like a criminal because you lost a game or changed a player.”