Buenos Aires, Feb 22 (IANS) Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has said that Lionel Messi cannot always be the saviour of the side always and asked the other players to support him after being drawn in a tricky Copa America Centenario group.
Argentina, who have been placed in Group D, will lock horns against Chile in their campaign opener, in a repeat of the 2015 Copa America final. They will then have to deal with the likes of Panama and Bolivia in their other group matches.
“Leo cannot always be the saviour,” Martino was cited by goal.com as saying on Sunday.
“It has to be that the team helps him out.”
In the last edition’s final, after a 0-0 draw, Chile won the penalty shoot out against Argentina 4-1 to lift the Copa America trophy.
Martino said he would want a result in his favour this time around.
“I would prefer to meet Chile again but a different result to the final,” he said.
Argentina’s group matches will be played in Santa Clara, Chicago and Seattle.