Every time a team is up against any high profile side, it is up to its manager how he motivates his side to play against the toppers hence he often issues exaggerated statements underplaying opponents’ strength and most of the time he starts by targeting the star player of upcoming rival. This is something that seems to be the case with United States national soccer side who is about to face Argentina in Tuesday’s Copa America Centenario semifinal at NRG stadium. Had it been any other side, 51-year-old German would have no problem but since this is a side powered by Messi, he needs to pull up his arms and start motivating his men by underrating Albiceleste although there is no one who is buying his overconfidence. If we talk about what is forcing the US manager to issue these statements, it is their win against Paraguay in two Copa qualifier games last October when Los Guaraníes had almost defeated the much high profile Argentinean side recently hence he is getting the fuel out of recent games when his side overcome the opponents who had earlier defeated the same Argentinian powerhouse.
Talking about the upcoming game and if they have any chance to stand in front of world’s most dangerous forward line led by the Messi, Klinsmann said at pre-match news conference, “It’s not that they win every game — they lose games as well. And when they lose games, they make mistakes. It will be a fascinating game. This is a wonderful opportunity for our players to show themselves.” Moreover, he prominently asks his side to show their one hundred percent and deliver their best if they want to show their class in front of the world audience. He added, “If you’re now one bit content, you’re going to get that lesson that we just talked about. What you want to tell the players is there’s no split second to relax here. It’s actually the opposite. You have to step it up even further.”
Talking especially about most lethal player, Messi, his side is going to face, he accepted, “It’s now Messi’s time. When I had the opportunity to play many games against Maradona, it was Maradona’s time. We all admire these type of players. But there are also ways to stop them. There are ways to play against these wonderful players. At the end of the day it’s two teams playing against each other. I think it’s a lot now down to confidence, confidence in yourself and take it to another level now.”
Jurgen Klinsmann: mr3002 / Shutterstock.com