MESSI and HIGUAIN press conference highlights

Continuing with the numerical order, we have a treat for you today. It's number 9 and number 10!

Gonzalo HIGUAIN and Lionel MESSI.

Here you have what they just said:

Lionel MESSI

On yesterday's match:

"We didn't have much luck with our finishing. But at least we created many chances. It was important to start with a win. We will improve as the tournament progresses".

"Their goalkeeper (Vincent ENYEAMA) had a great game. All credit should go to him"

"Our team had a good game. We found each other well playing up front. We had a lot of freedom to move around the pitch depending on what the play asked from us. We have a lot of great forwards and we have to make the most out of that strong asset we have".

On the pitch conditions (the reporter pointed that the grass was really short and it was wet):

"I like to play with a very short grass and a humid pitch. I'm used to it. It's faster, but we are still trying to get used to the ball".

On whether Argentina relies too much on what he can do:

"This team does not depend on me. We've got many great players and they can change a game at any given moment. What I can tell you is that I need to be in touch with the ball to give my best to the team".

"Yesterday I saw a lot of the ball thanks to MASCHERANO, VERON, DI MARIA and all my team-mates and I felt really happy".

On how he lived yesterday's match:

"I'm happy for how things worked out for me yesterday and because the team won. I lived so many difficult moments with our national team, especially in the World Cup Qualifiers when things were not working out for us. We couldn't play good matches. Today, I'm very happy".

On the importance of arriving early to South Africa:

"Since we arrived here, everything changed for us. The time we spent working here, helped us a lot. Slowly but surely this Argentina side will grow in confidence. We have a good margin to improve and we are going to do just that. We hope we can do it starting from our very next match. Nervousness and anxiety did play their part yesterday, so I hope they don't in our next match".

On whether Argentina are now a serious contender to the title:

"I think the candidates are the same we have been mentioning before the World Cup started. We made a good impression yesterday and we know who we are. We will take it one step at a time".

On whether he thought Nigeria could have equalised in the second half:

"In a match like yesterday's, you can never be entirely sure of winning. At any moment, your rivals could score, even if it's a fluky goal or a rebound. But I don't think we suffered that much yesterday. They had one clear scoring chance and we had like seven or eight. We should have finish off this match sooner".

On whether he watched a recording of yesterday's match:

"I haven't seen the match again yet. I haven't seen Greece v. South Korea either. We will surely do it starting tomorrow".

On whether South Korea are our main rivals in Group B:

"I think we are our main rivals. If we do the things we know how to do, with all due respect to the other teams in our Group, we should finish first and we should have no problems qualifying to the next round".

"Korea are a quick and organised team. If you let them have the ball and run at you, you could be in trouble".

On what Diego MARADONA said to him when he spoke to him before the second half started:

"To be honest, I don't remember exactly what he told me! (laughs). That's the truth! But anyway, Diego has always trusted me and he always gave me a lot of freedom. He is still doing that and he keeps giving us a lot of confidence".

On whether him and HIGUAIN have arguments about Barcelona and Real Madrid:

"Being here, we belong to our national team. We don't speak and we don't even think about Barcelona and/or Real Madrid. We only think about winning the World Cup".

On what kind of a manager Diego MARADONA is:

"Diego is always very close to the players. He is one of us in this group. He is always there for you. He's got a lot of experience and he has lived everything as a player. So he knows at all times what is going on and what we are going through. That's really comforting for us and it gives us confidence".

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Gonzalo HIGUAIN

On yesterday's win over Nigeria:

"The important thing was to win. A World Cup is always difficult and it's even more when you have a strong rival like we had in Nigeria. The important thing was to create the chances we have created. Obviously, if we would have scored in most of them we would have killed the game earlier. We need to continue like this and keep working".

"I think that, of all the matches we've seen so far in this World Cup, we are the team which created more chances. Had we scored some of them we would be talking about a very different thing here".

"It was a tough match. We knew Nigeria were going to be strong and really good in the air. But Argentina knew how to overcome that and we won it."

On how he felt playing with two other forwards from the start:

"I felt comfortable yesterday. It's not just the three of us (Note: MESSI, TEVEZ and him). There are truly great forwards in this team and they can all play with us in attack at any time during the tournament."

On how he lives with the fact that he missed a few clear chances:

"It's true that every striker lives to score and lives from the goals he scores. But I feel no pressure. I feel more like a challenge. I'm obviously disappointed for not scoring, but the important thing is that we won".

On the importance of having Lionel MESSI on the team:

"We know how important MESSI is for us. Yesterday it was obvious for all to see. It's such a pleasure to play next to him. He sent me a couple of times to be one-on-one with the keeper. He always looked to pass me the ball. He takes pressure off you and he takes a few defenders off you when he is on the ball. We hope he continues like this for the benefit of all of us".

On whether he was able to enjoy yesterday's match or if he was just doing his job. And then this reporter, from Panama, asked him to say hello to the people of Panama!:

"Of course you enjoy being at the World Cup. With responsibilities, but you enjoy it. It's not a thing you can live everyday. Especially with the kind of team-mates I've got with me. And a 'hello' to the people of Panama (laughs)"

On what Diego told him after the match:

"Diego gave me strength when he spoke to me after the match. He is a true motivator. Honestly, it's a privilege to see him on the bench and for this to be his first World Cup as a manager, I see that he works well and some of that was evident yesterday".