Lionel Scaloni is FURIOUS after news of a reported injury to Rodrigo de Paul is leaked
>
Lionel Scaloni is FURIOUS after news leaked of a reported injury to Rodrigo de Paul in closed-doors training… as the Argentina boss claims “the whole atmosphere of the country and the national team needs to improve”
- Argentina faces the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday night at 7pm
- His manager, Lionel Scaloni, was furious after news of the team leaked.
- Reports had surfaced in the media that Rodrigo de Paul had been injured.
- De Paul’s coup occurred in closed-door training, angering Scaloni
- The Argentine president asked journalists who had informed him of this injury update.
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, matches, live action and results
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has been furious after news of the team leaked ahead of the World Cup quarter-final clash with the Netherlands.
Argentina will face the fine-tuned side of Louis van Gaal in the quarter-finals on Friday night at 19:00 (GMT), after beating Australia 2-1 in the round of 16 last Saturday.
In the run-up to the highly successful clash, reports in the media suggested Rodrigo de Paul was a doubt after picking up a muscle injury in training.
Lionel Scaloni was enraged after news of the Argentine team leaked before the match with the Netherlands
However, the alleged injury De Paul sustained occurred in closed-door training on Wednesday, leaving Scaloni furious.
“Why are you asking me about De Paul’s situation?” Scaloni had asked journalists at his press conference prior to the game on Friday, as reported Argentinian Outlet Ole.
“Because he did some studies and did not finish his training,” replied the DirecTV journalist, Federico Rodas.
Scaloni then asked Rodas who had leaked the news, as De Paul denied injury. He told me: ‘If you tell me who told you, I’ll tell you about Rodrigo’s situation.’
Scaloni was furious as media reports were circulating about Rodrigo de Paul’s injury
The reporter denied Scaloni’s request and replied: “No, I’m not going to tell you who told me.”
Scaloni was clearly furious at the news about De Paul as he pleaded: “Training was behind closed doors, yesterday, guys…”
The tug-of-war between the pair continued as Rodas added: ‘Does that make you angry, Lionel?’
Scaloni said: “It doesn’t make me angry, the training was behind closed doors.”
Rodas replied: ‘No, I mean if the information that comes out about Rodrigo De Paul’s physique makes you angry…’
Scaloni then re-highlighted his anger over the leaks in the row when he said: “I don’t know if we play for Argentina or the Netherlands.”
Argentina beat Australia 2-1 last Saturday to set up a dramatic quarter-final clash with the Netherlands
‘The training was behind closed doors, so I don’t know where this information comes from.
‘We are not interested in the information that comes out when there is no press.
“That’s something we have to learn and improve the whole atmosphere of Argentina and the National Team…”
Elsewhere, Scaloni also did not commit to saying whether Angel di Maria would be fit for Friday’s match after the Juventus star missed out on the win over Australia.
Scaloni also did not reveal anything about Angel Di Maria’s fitness after he missed the Australia game.
And he added: ‘In principle, they feel good and we will see in training today and we will put together an alignment.
“(But) the team comes first, so if you’re on the pitch, you have to be fit to be able to help the team.”
Scaloni, who spent six months on loan at West Ham during the 2005-2006 season, has been in charge of Argentina since 2018.
During his time as manager of La Albiceleste, he led his nation to a historic triumph in the 2021 Copa América.
In total, he has won 37 of his 54 games as Argentina manager.