Colombia midfielder Abel Aguilar has warned his team-mates against paying special attention to Lionel Messi.
Aguilar said while Messi was world class, they must be wary of all the Argentina team when the sides meet in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier.
Aguilar was one of the players who nullified the threat from the Barcelona man during the Copa America, in a game which finished 0-0.
Colombia host the Albiceleste having registered an unbeaten start to the Conmebol competition, and confidence is high.
The Hercules man affirmed that controlling Messi was important, but that it would not be the key to victory.
“Argentina are not just Messi,” the 26-year-old said.
“We don’t just have to control Messi, but the entire Argentina team.”
“We cannot give them space, so we will have to play with a compact, organised side. Going from there we will be able to generate a little more play, and think only about the job Colombia are doing.”
Aguilar comes into the first team as a replacement for the injured Fredy Guarin, and will partner Gustavo Bolivar in the centre of a 4-2-3-1 set-up.
He affirmed that Colombia had no fear of their rivals, and a win was more than a possibility.
“We have already taken on this team, and although the matches are different we hope that the team can continue to grow,” he said.
“We want to play a complete game so that we take three points, which would be very important to us.”
