The Barcelona superstar admitted that it is a further motivation for Argentina to play against Ecuador at a sold out stadium.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi affirmed to the press that he is looking forward to Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Ecuador at River Plate's Estadio Monumental, not only because much is at stake but because they will be urged forward by a full house.
"I didn't know that it was all full. It makes me very happy because the last time [against Bolivia] it wasn't like that," declared Messi during a pre-game press conference.
"It is good that we are all united for these games, which are very important for the national team," he added.
Messi, who scored a staggering 73 goals for Barcelona last season, admitted that he is comfortable about playing alongside any of Argentina's attacking players no matter who they might be.
"Whether it is [Sergio] Aguero or [Gonzalo] Higuain, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi or [Angel] Di Maria, we understand each other very well, it has been quite a while that we have been playing together, and there is no problem. We still don't know whether we will play with two or three forwards," explained Messi.
According to the FIFA World Player of the Year, if Argentina want to overcome Ecuador they have to keep the ball between themselves, and dominate proceedings for the duration of the game.
"We have to control the whole match, create situations and score an early goal if it is possible, because they will try to play on the counter-attack. We have to find a way to break through them and to play our own game," he said.
"They are a national team who have improved heaps in recent times, who have made life difficult for us here, and they beat us there [in Ecuador]. They are complicated rivals, like all of the matches of the World Cup qualifiers."
With all 42,000 tickets put on sale completely sold out four days prior to the game, it is clear that much is expected of Messi and co. on Saturday.
"I didn't know that it was all full. It makes me very happy because the last time [against Bolivia] it wasn't like that," declared Messi during a pre-game press conference.
"It is good that we are all united for these games, which are very important for the national team," he added.
Messi, who scored a staggering 73 goals for Barcelona last season, admitted that he is comfortable about playing alongside any of Argentina's attacking players no matter who they might be.
"Whether it is [Sergio] Aguero or [Gonzalo] Higuain, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi or [Angel] Di Maria, we understand each other very well, it has been quite a while that we have been playing together, and there is no problem. We still don't know whether we will play with two or three forwards," explained Messi.
According to the FIFA World Player of the Year, if Argentina want to overcome Ecuador they have to keep the ball between themselves, and dominate proceedings for the duration of the game.
"We have to control the whole match, create situations and score an early goal if it is possible, because they will try to play on the counter-attack. We have to find a way to break through them and to play our own game," he said.
"They are a national team who have improved heaps in recent times, who have made life difficult for us here, and they beat us there [in Ecuador]. They are complicated rivals, like all of the matches of the World Cup qualifiers."
With all 42,000 tickets put on sale completely sold out four days prior to the game, it is clear that much is expected of Messi and co. on Saturday.
