On the eve of Argentina's match against Chile in the 7th round of the World Cup South American qualifying group stage, Argentina's Alvarez was interviewed to express his anticipation for the upcoming match and his thoughts on his team and personal form.
Alvarez began by emphasizing the importance of these two matches, stating that the team will give their best and focus on each game. He mentioned that Chile is a difficult opponent and will not allow Argentina to win easily, so the team will have to utilize their strengths to get the victory. This seriousness and focus on the game is undoubtedly one of the key factors for Argentina to stay on top in the qualifiers.
In terms of personal form, Alvarez says he feels good, but admits that the transition from the Premier League to La Liga has brought some "changes". Such changes may include differences in tactics, game tempo, physical confrontation, etc., but Alvarez is clearly ready to adapt to these changes and is looking forward to showing his best form in the game.
When asked if he would play as a striker alongside Lautaro in Messi's absence, Alvarez said that he was not sure yet and was just training, while the coaching staff would make a decision in the coming days. He also pointed out that it is common to be paired with different strikers in soccer, and that he is used to this change and will adjust his position and role according to the needs of the team and the requirements of the coaching staff.
Regarding the fact that Messi and Di Maria will not be playing in the two South American qualifiers this month, Alvarez said that the team will have to adapt to the change. He mentioned that Di Maria will get the tribute he deserves, while for Messi's absence, he hopes that Messi will be back in the team soon. This respect and concern for his teammates shows Alvarez's sense of responsibility and team spirit as a member of the team.
Finally, Alvarez spoke about the "pressure" of being World Champions and Copa America champions. He said that the situation has always been the same and that the team's goal has always been to represent the Argentine national team and to do their best. He emphasized that everyone in the team is very competitive, which is what the coaching staff wants. Therefore, they can't relax and always maintain high standards to continue to represent the national team and stay at the highest level. This desire to win and the insistence on standards will undoubtedly motivate Argentina to achieve better results in the qualifiers.
