Angel di Maria, scorer of Benfica’s first goal in the 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors, was frustrated on Monday at not having made his Club World Cup debut with a win and complained about the “many kicks” and the refereeing.
Di Maria spoke to ‘DAZN’ after the 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors. He assured that Benfica knows Argentine football and knows “how to play” against Miguel Angel Russo’s team before questioning the refereeing of Mexican referee Cesar Arturo Ramos and the play of the ‘Xeneizes’.
The future Rosario Central player regretted that the referee “allowed a lot of kicks”. “If he had shown yellow cards at the beginning, it would have been a nicer game, but it was a tough one,” he added, questioning what he understood to be roughness on the part of the Argentine team.
Asked about the development of the game, he acknowledged that Benfica did not play well in the first half, but that they improved in the second half and tried to win the game.
He also regretted Boca’s two goals, which he said were the result of “two defensive distractions”. “That’s how it is, this is football, we got a draw and now we have to keep going,” added Di María, who now only has eyes for the two remaining matches.
“Now, the next one (with New Zealand’s Auckland City) we have to win and against Bayern, too. The mentality is to always try to win, to try to go through first in the group and for that we have to win,” he added in conclusion.