Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano has claimed the team's relationship with coach Jorge Sampaoli is "just like normal" despite rumours of a player revolt at the World Cup.
Following Argentina's 3-0 defeat to Croatia which left them battling to avoid elimination from the World Cup at the group stage there were reports that the coach would be sacked and the team selection for the final group game against Nigeria on Tuesday would be decided by the players.
But at a press conference on Sunday Mascherano said the players had raised their concerns at a meeting with Sampaoli.
The Hebei China Fortune midfielder said: "The relationship with Sampaoli is totally normal, but if we feel uncomfortable, we will raise it, otherwise we would be hypocrites.
"The opposite would be to harm the team, we must seek the collective benefit, we are 23, also those of the squad.
Nigeria v Argentina Opta facts
- Four of the eight games between Nigeria and Argentina have come at World Cup finals – Argentina winning all four contests.
- Nigeria have faced Argentina in the group stages in each of their last three World Cups (2002, 2010, 2014).
- Nigeria’s most recent encounter with Argentina came in November 2017, with the Super Eagles winning 4-2 in Krasnodar, thanks in part to a brace from Alex Iwobi.
- Argentina are currently enduring their longest winless run in World Cup finals history, (W0 D2 L2).
- Argentina have never previously gone through a first round World Cup group stage without at least one victory before.
- The last time Argentina failed to progress past the group stages of the World Cup was in 2002 (W1 D1 L1), with their sole victory that year coming against Nigeria.
- All six of Nigeria’s wins at the World Cup have come against European opposition, with the Super Eagles drawing two and losing five against nations from other continents.
- Nigeria are looking to win successive World Cup games for the first time since 1998 – three points will also guarantee a place in the knockout stages for the fourth time.
- Nigerian attacker Ahmed Musa is now his country’s all-time top scorer in World Cup games with four goals after scoring a brace against Iceland.
- Argentina’s Lionel Messi has had 12 shots in this World Cup so far but has yet to score – that’s eight more attempts than any other Argentina player.
"We are not playing well and we take charge of the results. We will not be responding to things that others do."
Mascherano revealed that at the meeting with Sampaoli the coach had sought the views of his players.
"At the meeting, we talked about football to help us and get this out of the game, we have to make positive things, there's a lot of myth in the meetings, the best technicians ask the players for advice too, because we are the ones who decide in the field," added the former Barcelona player.
"The coach is the one who gives us the tools alone to be comfortable in the field but you have to talk, it happens in all places, also in Barca.
"He wants to know what happens to you on the field to be able to make decisions, they are basic soccer concepts."
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