Sports

#WorldCup 2018: Umtiti reveals difference between Messi at Barcelona, Argentina

Published

6 years ago

June 29, 2018

France defender, Samuel Umtiti has said there is a difference between Lionel Messi at Barcelona and Argentina.
Umtiti has played with Messi at the Nou Camp for two years and will face the Albiceleste captain in a round of 16 clash on Saturday.

Messi scored his first goal of the 2018 World Cup, as Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 to qualify for the knockout stages.

Umtiti, who is expected to start at the Kazan Arena after being rested in France’s last group game against Denmark, said: “I see him every day. It is very hard to stop him. He’s got outstanding qualities.

“We will try to stop him but he’s not the only one in this Argentina team, they have other strikers.

“He is different with Argentina than with Barcelona.

“He does not have the same players with him and their way of playing is different but he has saved them on several occasions.

“The Argentineans are tough on him, but he cannot do everything on his own.

“I really feel that he doesn’t live football like others do – in the way he sees it, in the choices he makes and in the goals he scores.

“He just keeps scoring goals after goals. He has it in him. He doesn’t like losing. He always wants to win games and titles. I didn’t expect that from him because he already won everything. It’s his state of mind.”