Fri Oct 11 02:04:48 UTC 2024: ## Messi Blames Pitch for Argentina’s Frustrating Draw in Venezuela
**Maturín, Venezuela:** Argentina captain Lionel Messi expressed frustration following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Venezuela in their first World Cup qualifier of the October international window. Messi blamed the heavy rain and poor pitch conditions at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín for preventing Argentina from playing their usual style of football.
“It was very difficult, it makes for very ugly matches,” Messi told TyC Sports after the game. “We could not complete two passes in a row. In the second half we did it on the right a little more, but it is difficult to play like that. Very little is played.”
The heavy rainfall in Maturín led to a pre-match delay and a soaked pitch that made passing and controlling the ball a challenge. Despite Nicolás Otamendi giving Argentina the lead, Venezuela’s Salomón Rondón equalized in the second half to salvage a point.
Messi, who returned to international action after a two-month injury layoff, acknowledged the impact of the pitch on the match. “We tied because the field didn’t help us do what we wanted, we had to do another game than the one prepared for,” he said.
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul echoed Messi’s sentiments, saying, “In this case, we couldn’t play football.”
Argentina currently leads the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings with 19 points from nine games, but the draw in Venezuela will have left them wanting more. Messi, however, was happy to be back on the pitch and looked ahead to the next match against Bolivia in Buenos Aires.
“The wait to play again [with Argentina] was too long,” Messi said. “I missed many games with my club. I am happy to return, to continue adding consecutive games and to be here again.”
The team now prepares for the final match of the October window, aiming to bounce back from the disappointing draw and secure a victory in front of their home fans.
First Piper 