Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, says his love for Lionel Messi does not mean his side will allow Argentina win their all-important last Group D match on Tuesday.
Rohr while addressing the media at the pre-match press conference in Saint Petersburg stadium ahead of the must-win match for either side, said his concern is for the Super Eagles to qualify for the next round.
He went further to reveal that football is not about pity or mercy because of love for any particular player.
“We love Messi. I love him personally. My team love him,” Rohr said.
“It’s not about whether it’s his final World Cup. Ours is to qualify from the group. In football, there’s no mercy or pity, we cannot make any gift even if we love him so much. We have to qualify. No, we don’t think about that. We are concerned about our game.
“He did well but he was unlucky. The goalkeeper stopped his penalty. We have to be aware of his ability.”
Rohr also admitted that it won’t be an easy game against the two-time world champions but a spectacular game of football.
“I cannot give you our plan on how we will play tomorrow. But it’s going to be a hard battle against Argentina,” he said.
“Perhaps a draw could be enough for us. But I can assure you that it will be a spectacular game. It’ll be a great piece of football.
“We could employ different formation but I hope the beginning of tomorrow’s game will be better for us.”
The 62-year old is, however, hoping that Ahmed Musa’s brace against Iceland will be a motivation going into the game.
“I hope the confidence he has now will help the team against Argentina tomorrow,” he said.
“Nice and happy about Musa’s goal, a wonderful technique from him. And I hope he will do it again. He worked very well. When he didn’t play in Leicester we had to talk to them, he went to Moscow and we came to watch him here.
“He trained in a lot of snow, he worked very well and he deserved his return in the team.”
Super Eagles will take on Argentina at the Saint Petersburg stadium on Tuesday. (The Cable)
