Javier Mascherano in 10 phrases: Captaincy, Messi and more
Javier Mascherano has given his first press conference of the season. Like usual, he did not avoid any issue and gave full responses. These are the 10 key lines.
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The World Cup final
That will remain forever in my head. We were too close for it not to hurt, but life goes on. At a big club like this you cannot stay down with what happened.
FIFA punishment
The club have taken good care of the boys in La Masia in the time I've been here. Many players have come through and from what I've seen, the club has always given the best possible quality of life.
A defender or a midfielder
I'm a team player. Luis Enrique can count on me to do whatever he sees fit. I appreaciate his words of praise and I will not try to change his opinion.
His future was in the air
The end of last season was not easy. I told the club to do with me what they pleased. Said that if they did not want me I had no problem leaving. The club said "no, you can still play".
Titles
We are forced to try and win it all, to get as far as possible, but sometimes it doesn't happen. Promising to win doesn't make much sense.
Criticism of Messi
It's unfair. If Argentina reached the final of the World Cup, it was thanks to him. It is silly to criticise the receiver, rather than the giver of the award (Golden ball). He picked up the award and he deserved it.
Victor Valdes
He has probably been the best goalkeeper in the club's history. But we can not stay in the past. Now we must support the three goalkeepers we have.
Captaincy
I did not expect to be captain. The captain has to be someone who people identify with the club, and ultimately, it rules me out.
Tata Martino
Martino has shown in all of the places he has been that he is an honest man. We are all the cuprits of last season. The players, firstly.
Praise in Argentina
In Argentina it's not important what you do with your club, the same way people here do not care what you do with your national team.
