The excuse that Lionel Messi gave after Argentina could not beat humble Venezuela

Lionel Messi expressed his disappointment over the poor condition of the pitch following Argentina's 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Thursday, October 10, in the ninth round of the South American World Cup qualifiers. Heavy rain had left the field at Estadio Monumental de Maturín waterlogged, which Messi said made the game more difficult and hindered Argentina’s ability to play fluidly.

"It was really tough. The game became ugly and hard-fought; we couldn’t string two passes together," Messi explained after the match. "It’s difficult to play like that," he added, referring to how the waterlogged field disrupted their usual game plan. Messi's return to the Albiceleste, after missing the September qualifiers due to injury, was marred by challenging conditions that forced Argentina to adjust their approach.

Messi Reflects on Argentina's Adjusted Tactics

Messi was candid in his post-match analysis, admitting that the team's strategy had to change due to the state of the pitch. "The field really didn’t help us do what we wanted to do. We had to play a game we hadn’t prepared for," he said.

Instead of their usual style, Argentina had to focus on physical battles, second balls, and limiting risk in defense. "We fought for second balls, won duels, and played off the opponent’s mistakes. We didn’t risk much because we couldn’t play from the back. Every time we passed the ball backward, it stopped in the water," Messi added.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Messi felt Argentina adapted as best as they could, saying, "We played the game we had to play given the conditions." The unfavorable weather and soggy pitch had clearly affected Argentina's ability to perform at their best.

• Lionel Messi criticized the poor field conditions, citing heavy rain that left the pitch waterlogged.
• The state of the field forced Argentina to change their usual style of play, focusing on winning duels and avoiding risk.
• Messi emphasized that the team had to abandon their pre-game plan and adjust to the conditions.
• Messi returned to the Argentine national team after missing September's matches due to injury.