Argentina qualified to the quarterfinals of the Copa América-2019 this Sunday with a victory against Qatar 2-0 after a hesitant start in the first two games of the tournament, although the star Lionel Messi warned: "it has just started the real race for the title."
"The important thing was to win and continue in the race for the title, going through the next round and getting us into the race for the championship title," highlighted the '10' at the mixed zone.
The Barcelona´s striker added: "This is going to be an important boost for what is coming", referring to the quarterfinal game against Venezuela next Friday at the legendary Maracaná in Rio de Janeiro.
Despite qualifying with a single victory, a draw (1-1 against Paraguay) and a defeat (2-0 against Colombia) and playing bellow the expectations, Messi warned that for the Albiceleste "another cup just started."
"This victory has to make us strong and grow as a team," he added.
On the game against Qatar, won thanks to the goals of Lautaro Martinez (4) and Sergio Agüero (82), Messi analyzed: "It was difficult to play a game like that, because of the need, the obligation, the fear of being out, but beyond that we did things well and we qualified that is the important thing ".
Aguero, who showed that he has to start in the starting lineup, said: "Luckily I had to be in the starting line-up and luckily we understood each other very well referring to the strikers (Messi, Martinez and him)".
Referring to the match against Venezuela, the Manchester City striker said that "it is a very complicated opponent, which counter attacks very well. We will try to be prepared for that".
