Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has given in to player power – despite surviving an attempted dressing room “coup”.
Senior players, led by former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano, wanted Sampaoli sacked and replaced by 1986 World Cup-winning star Jorge Barruchaga ahead of Tuesday’s crunch clash with Nigeria.The squad demanded talks with Sampaoli, his coaching staff and Argentina FA chief Claudio Tapia, on Friday night, making clear they had lost trust and respect for the former Chile and Sevilla boss.
Sampaoli, though, was given a stay of execution although he was told by Tapia he WILL be sacked after the tournament.But it has emerged that Sampaoli has effectively been overthrown as far as tactics and selection are concerned for the make or break game in St Petersburg.
It means he has been ordered by his players to junk his preferred three at the back formation in favour of a 4-3-3 aimed at getting the ball to Lionel Messi in more advanced positions.