Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has said his team was unlucky to lose out to Chile in the final of the Copa America and claims he is behind his players “to the death”.
Argentina missed out on the trophy after losing to the hosts on penalties following 120 minutes without a goal from either side here on Saturday.
“We didn’t play like we do usually and nor did Chile,” Martino said after the game.
“The two teams had more success in neutralising each other than in creating. Argentina didn’t create much and Chile didn’t create much. I believe the two picked teams to neutralise the other. We played against the team that had scored the most goals and they didn’t create chances.”
“It’s reciprocal. So it’s unfair to talk about why Argentina didn’t play like they usually do without asking why Chile didn’t play as they usually do,” he added.
“We controlled their players in midfield. We also controlled (Jorge) Valdivia and Alexis Sanchez. My recognition for Chile has been from day one, but if you ask me about today’s game, I believe Argentina should have won.”
Martino missed out on a trophy at the first time of asking, while his players ended up empty-handed once again after losing the World Cup final to Germany in Brazil last year.
But the coach insists they will look to the future and keep trying to bring an end to their 22-year wait for a senior international title.
“We will keep moving forward, just like these players did after the World Cup,” he added.
“Honestly I’m with these players to the death because they work with commitment and honesty. They suffer, they need this. We will keep trying.”
And after losing out this time, Martino maintains he would go about the match in the same way if the two teams met again.
“In the way we go about looking for the victory, I would do exactly the same thing tomorrow,” he said.
