Argentina national team is closely monitoring the performance of its players in the closing stages of the European season, with an eye on the 2026 World Cup. In this context, assistant coach Roberto Ayala provided details during a press conference about the message from the coaching staff and the situation of some players. Ayala revealed to the Argentine News Agency that the coaching staff has asked certain players, when possible, to also think about the national team: "The coach's message was that at some point they should think a little about the national team," he explained, although he acknowledged the difficulty of doing so during a decisive part of the season. "It's very difficult, at the end of a season where the team might be fighting for relegation or a championship, for them to hold back and not give it their all," he stated. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of everyone arriving in good physical condition: "We want them to finish healthy, and that's what we need." On the other hand, he referred to the generational change and mentioned Valentín Barco and Nicolás Paz as part of this renewal: "It's good to have many options. It's new blood, new sap; we need that energy," he affirmed, although he acknowledged that the final decision will be complex when the final list has to be reduced. Finally, he reassured regarding the physical condition of Cristian Romero. "The timelines are there, so we are calm on that front," he assured, to make it clear that the defender has a chance to arrive in good condition for the World Cup, as long as he manages to regain his best form. Mascherano is no longer the coach of Inter Miami for personal reasons.
