First of all, congratulations on 70 games as the coach of the Argentina national team. I imagine it's something special for you to have played so many games at the helm of the national team. How do you see yourself now that you've done it?
"Well, it was unthinkable to have been here so long since the first day I arrived here. It's been years and a long time; it's a great joy to be able to continue being here and, above all, to continue to maintain a line. That is the most important thing."
One of the most successful eras in Argentine football...
"Yes, yes, we were lucky to be part of this, thanks to the players who, in the end, are the ones who have given us this way of playing. Hopefully, we can continue. It's always more and more difficult, but well, the important thing is to keep trying, isn't it?"
You said that the team is stronger, regardless of Lionel Messi's presence or not, because it continues to be more and more solid, even in the games when Lionel wasn't there. How did you achieve that?
"Well, in the end, when he is on the pitch, we know how the team plays, but also the team has interpreted that when he is not on the pitch, our line of play has to be the same. Fortunately, we have players who make his absence less, and that's what's important.
"Without players it's difficult, and that's what this national team has, to be able to choose from among the best and have a huge group of players."
There are now Venezuela and Ecuador, the last two qualifiers before the World Cup. What are you going to analyse between now and the World Cup in these two matches? What are you going to focus on?
"The Venezuela and Ecuador games, beyond the fact that they are qualifiers, we are taking them to try to continue to maintain a line of play, giving our best, but also taking advantage of the fact that we have already qualified, to give the opportunity to a player who we hope and want to see on the pitch. We hope to be able to give a chance to some players who haven't had a chance in these two games."
Do you see yourself coaching the national team beyond the 2026 World Cup? Do you personally envisage yourself beyond the World Cup?
"The truth is that I never thought beyond what was coming. I'm not even thinking about the World Cup; I'm thinking about these two games coming up, Venezuela and Ecuador, and then the tour of the United States.
"In the end, it's not worth thinking much further ahead, because otherwise you get distracted from what's coming up. Our slogan is always 'think about the immediate'."
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has confirmed that these are his last two knockout games. The day we all knew was coming has finally arrived. How do you see the post-Messi era?
"Yes, well, in principle, let's enjoy him now, let's enjoy him as much as possible, as many games as he can play, and we'll see in the future.
"It's obvious that at some point he won't be here and the Argentine national team will always continue, but the moment he decides not to come, the loss will be enormous, not only for Argentine football, but for the world of football, which wants to see him on the pitch.
"In the end, whoever likes football likes him to be there, so for now let's enjoy it."
Is there an heir in Argentine football?
"No, there can't be. There won't be. There won't be an heir to Messi, for sure."
And in world football?
"No, let's see, there may be great players who marked the era, but what he has done in such a long time, I think it will be unrepeatable.
"Football has a lot of unthinkable things, but in this, I could almost assure you that it will be impossible to see anything else like it. At least from what I saw, I think Leo is unmatched."
And to hear him say that these are his last two knockout games, what did it mean to you, beyond the fact that you already knew?
"It's important that he knows and is clear about what he wants to do with his future. We, as a coaching staff, have to enjoy him: the Argentinian always thinks about what is going to happen without enjoying the present, so for now I enjoy him in training, and that is what I will do."
What does Messi mean in the dressing room?
"We already know very well what Messi represents to the teammate, both on and off the pitch, to the opponent, to the referee... everyone wants to have something of him.
"The fact that Leo is only on the pitch already has an impact, and his teammates in the dressing room, just imagine, everyone is attentive to what he does or says, and the truth is that anyone who knows him will realise that he's just one more."
Any unforgettable moment that you have experienced with Messi in the dressing room that has never happened with any other footballer?
"With Leo, we have had a lot of moments in which I realised that we were talking about an unrepeatable player. With us, he has played games that only he could play, in physical conditions in which others would not have gone out on the pitch.
"He went out and nobody realised what was happening to him. We have seen things in training that are difficult to see in another player. So, well, you keep them and take them with you forever."
Enzo Fernandez
In relation to Enzo Fernandez, how do you see him in the Premier League and between now and the World Cup? How have you noticed his growth?
"His adaptation to the Premier League is over, that's it. He's a ready-made footballer, and he maintains one of the best levels in the Premier League, which today is the most competitive league in the world. Fortunately, he has a coach (Enzo Maresca) who understands how he plays, how he likes to play, and he is happy, from what I see.
"I hope he maintains that level, which is the important thing: we appreciate very much that he has stayed there and that he is the emblematic player of Chelsea, which is a great club in Europe."
How do you assess the fact that he plays under pressure at Chelsea? Does that help him to play for the Argentine national team?
"Just being a World Cup winner and being given the captain's armband is enough to show that they have seen that he is capable of playing under pressure. I think he's capable of doing that.
"They are guys who have been competing since they were kids, and the pressure on a football pitch is nothing for them; they have been doing it all their lives, and I think they even move well in that respect. So I see him well, and I see him with desire."
Do you see him as a leader after Leo Messi in terms of the projection in the Argentine national team?
"The word 'leader' has a lot of connotations. You can be a leader without talking, you can be a leader by talking, you can be a leader with the right words, or you can be a leader by playing because you are good at playing football.
"There are many footballers here who have that role. It's clear that Enzo Fernandez, because of his age, is destined to be a player who has to stay for many years."
Nico Paz
As for Nico Paz, how do you see his evolution, his growth under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas? Were you able to talk to the coach about Nico?
"Walter Samuel is very close to Como, and he often goes to the training sessions. He is in contact with them, and luckily, Cesc Fabregas is a coach who plays the kind of football that we like, who makes Nico Paz play the way we want him to play and gives him the importance that Nico needs.
"Como's attacking football goes through his feet, and we are happy with his current form. He is a boy who is going to give us things. Everything in due time, as we always say. Today, we have a consolidated national team with a solid base, and those who are coming in are contributing their talents. Nico is also destined to be one of those who can stay with us for a long time.
Do you see any particular trait in reference to another player in relation to Nico Paz?
"I don't really like comparisons. Nico is a player with a clear goal, possesses physical strength, and excels in important defensive work. He is a very complete player. And let's not forget that, as they say, he's just starting his career and still has a lot more to give. He will be a complete player."
Franco Mastantuono
Franco Mastantuono made his debut in Real Madrid and revolutionised everything. How did you see all this evolution that he had until he arrived in the white team and all this process that he is going through?
"Franco's situation is a bit similar to that of Nico Paz. He is a very young boy, even younger than Nico, who has taken a giant step in his career, to a club that is huge, and all in due time.
"Luckily, his coach understands him, he knows very well what is there, and they are going to take him in the way they see fit. Let's not forget how old he is, let's not forget the step he's taken, and I think Real Madrid are aware of that, and they're going to take him in the way they see he can move up. Let's understand that he is a young boy and that he needs to adapt.
"We, as a coaching staff, believe in his possibilities, and as far as we think it's convenient and that he can contribute, we will use him. And if we see that it's not yet the right time, we'll do that too, but it's clear that he has a huge future ahead of him."
Do you see him mature at the age of 18, and that he really feels football as if he has always played for Real Madrid, in these first matches?
"Yes, he is a boy who shows maturity, he shows that he wants to learn, and it is clear that he has fantastic conditions and that he has to exploit them, as long as the club, his teammates and the coach understand that he is 18 years old."
Cristian Romero
Regarding Cuti Romero, he has renewed with Tottenham. He is also a reference point, a leader. How do you see his present and the decision to stay at Spurs, knowing that he had several offers?
"Well, Cuti is in the end at a great club, one of the best in Europe, and I think that his renewal will bring him peace of mind, stability, and he will continue in the same line he has been in.
"He has had some physical problems. Fortunately, now they seem to be diminishing, and he is returning to being the player we believe he can be. The renewal shows him that his club has a lot of confidence in him."
Giuliano Simeone
Let's talk about Giuliano Simeone. Many people compare him to his father. Do you see it that way? Do you feel that he is growing every day? Today, he is establishing himself in the national team.
"Well, Giuliano, as you say, has the 'Simeone DNA'; he has the competitive DNA that Cholo had when he played, and what I like most is that he is always attentive to the coach's instructions. He always wants to improve. With the coaching staff, he analyses situations, asks for videos, and reports. He is an interesting footballer, still a very young player with a lot of room for improvement.
"He is already part of our roster regularly, so it will depend a lot on what we want or what we think we can use in each game, but he is a player who is also part of our national team."
Does he have a competitive mentality, like Cholo had, like Simeone has in his DNA?
"Yes, yes, that's why I'm telling you, both he and Giovanni, who we've also had, are very similar in that aspect, and coaching them is a pleasure, because they are guys who give their all, and for us it's spectacular."
Rodrigo De Paul
There was a lot of talk about De Paul's decision to leave Europe and join Inter Miami in the MLS, which many people might consider to be an inferior league. Did you advise him? What did you tell him? How do you see it?
"Rodrigo informed us that he was going to Inter Miami, and, like so many other transfers and changes in the time we have been here, we have never interfered.
"We believe that a transfer is not only about sport, but also about family and emotions. There are a lot of things that we don't have to get involved in, and we will evaluate his performance on the pitch.
"We don't care about the league where he plays, but the performance he has, and if he continues at the level we know, he will continue to be, and that's the most important thing. We'll see what happens in the future, but we know what we're going to do in the future.
"But we know very well what he is like, how he gives his all, and what his competitive aspect is, and I don't think that will change much."
How did you see him in these games at Inter?
"He's a guy who always gives his all. He fit in very well with the team, which is why I believe it's not important where he plays, but what he does on the pitch. Afterwards, when he comes here, we'll play it out and then evaluate whether he needs to play or not. Rodrigo has always played when he has been available, so it will depend a lot on him. I always say the same thing."
Franco Armani
Regarding Franco Armani, are you tempted by his current level to call him back into the Argentina squad?
"I love and appreciate Franco as if he were my brother. What he's done for us in terms of sports and teamwork has been incredible. Let's not forget everything he's given us. He has said what he wants with the national team, that his time with the national team is over, and we respect his decision.
"I think it's been good for him: he's focused fully on River and he's really making a name for himself, we're happy and we're even excited to see him like this. When a footballer makes a decision of that calibre, it's hard to convince him and it's hard to change his mind."
The embers of the 2022 World Cup and the dream of 2026
What is your summary of the 2022 World Cup from the dressing room, from the post-consecration period? What image do you remember most about it, and what do you remember most with time after such a great achievement?
"The thing about the dressing room is that there are moments that stick with you, and there are moments that you will remember 30, 40 years later. The one I cherish most was when I was sitting on the substitutes' bench and I saw everyone... it wasn't in the dressing room, but on the pitch, I saw everyone who was part of those days in Qatar, everyone running to one side, running to the other, hugging each other.
"They are unique moments and luckily, I have it in my mind, because it was 30, 40 seconds that I was sitting there watching everyone running. I think that was the moment, as it was for the America's Cup in 2021, when I also did the same thing, and saw everyone running, not knowing where to go. Those are unique moments that will stay with me for sure."
And how do you see the 2026 World Cup in relation to its 48-team format?
"Well, apart from the fact that there are more teams, it has the particularity that it will be played in three different countries, with a time change, with the heat, which I think is an important issue to discuss, although afterwards we probably won't have much to do.
"It's going to be difficult, tough, as all World Cups are, and with the added difficulty of playing with the weather. So let's wait for the draw and see where we will play."
And do you think the USA will get the most out of this tournament?
"Beyond the fact that we won in Qatar, and I'm not saying that because I won for myself, but for the fans, for the fans, to have played a World Cup in one city where it was very easy to travel, I think it will be unique. Later, they will say I'm saying it because we won, but I think it was unique.
"As for what's to come, I think it's going to be complicated for the fans, the long journeys and above all the time changes. But the United States will surely always take the positives out of it. They are number one in this, and I hope the fans enjoy it, which is the most important thing at the end of the day."
The qualifiers are over, leave a message for the people, for the fans, for world football, because at the end of the day, it is a stage before the 2026 World Cup where Argentina will once again show its status as world champions.
"Well, it seemed easy, and I can assure you that it has not been easy at all. These are the qualifiers. I don't know if they are the most difficult, but I can guarantee that there are moments that are very complicated, and we have qualified in time and in a way that, some time ago, would have been difficult to think about.
"So, well, I'm happy to have finished first, and the message is that we'll keep trying to fight, competing, which is what it's all about, and then the result can sometimes turn out differently, but our idea is to keep competing and keep bringing joy to our country."
What about your future? When will you decide? After the World Cup?
"My future? No, the truth is that I don't have my head in it, as I didn't know after Qatar either. I don't have my head in it; it wears me down, and I don't think it's important today. Today, it's more important to arrive well and do things right so that the team arrives in the best way possible."