Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza has said that he is not sorry for comments he made last week that Barcelona are not taking care of Lionel Messi.
Messi was injured last week in Barcelona's 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid, and the club reported his torn right adductor muscle would take three weeks to heal.
Bauza was critical of the Catalan club for playing Messi in four games in 12 days despite a groin injury in his other leg that limited him earlier in the season, although the Argentina FA later apologised for Bauza's remark.
As Argentina prepare to play Peru and Paraguay in World Cup qualifying on Oct. 6 and 11, Bauza said it was not true that the Argentina FA (AFA) had communication with Barcelona over Messi's health or Bauza's comments.
"The AFA did not speak to Barcelona and Barcelona did not speak with the AFA," Bauza told ESPN Radio. "I am not sorry for what I said. I said that above all else, the players must be cared for. He [Messi] is a player who plays a lot of games over the course of the year. He is 29 and his recovery period is no longer the same. And he is the type of player who always wants to play."
Bauza acknowledged that Argentina will need to make adjustments without their star forward.
"Messi is impossible to replace because there is no one who plays like him," he said. "But Argentina have very good players. We are going to wait to see what happens between today and the time they all get here. There are players who can play in his place and even though they can't throw the opposing team off balance [as Messi does], they can still make a big difference and do great things."
Reports in Spain estimate that Messi could return to training on the field by Oct. 12 and possibly be ready to play again on Oct. 15 when Barcelona face Deportivo La Coruna.
Bauza said he estimated recovery time at just a little over a week.
"The MRI shows that he has inflammation in his adductor. I am estimated that the injury will take 10 days until he can play again," Bauza said. "We must wait until the swelling goes down."
Bauza said surgery was not always the remedy.
#Eliminatorias Mariano Andújar, Emmanuel Mas, Guido Pizarro y Lucas Alario se suman a la convocatoria para los próximos encuentros. pic.twitter.com/SKWnLlRTUi
- Selección Argentina (@Argentina) September 28, 2016
"There are players for whom surgery solves nothing. Above all else, they must find a way to reduce the swelling and so that there is no more [inflammation]," Bauza said.
On Wednesday, Bauza named the remaining players to Argentina's squad, and Boca Juniors forward Carlos Tevez was not included in the list.
Tevez said on Tuesday that he is considering retirement in December because he is fed up with the drama of the Argentina league.
"I don't know what he said or the context, so I can't comment," Bauza said. "He must have said it during a moment that he was upset and he will surely change his mind. I think he has a lot more to give. There is no doubt that he is not at the level he was a year ago, but he can get back to it. If he does, he could be called up."
As for Pep Guardiola's recent comments that he expects more from Sergio Aguero, Bauza said: "I think that conversation was beneficial. He [Aguero] is so strong in the attack and his coach is asking him to be better on defence. I do not want [Gonzalo] Higuain, or [Lucas] Pratto or [Lucas] Alario to defend. I want them to close up the gaps for those who do so that it is easier for them to do their jobs."
Regarding the decision of Gerardo Martino to coach Atlanta United when the club debuts in Major League Soccer in 2017, Bauza said: "I think it is a fabulous idea that he coach in a place where he feels comfortable.
"He deserves this after all he has accomplished and all he has given. We spoke on the phone and plan to meet when time allows. In my estimation, his time with the national team was successful. Argentines feel like second place is a complete failure, but I don't see it that way. His time as coach had very positive results and we took advantage of them."