Argentina's coaching staff have moved swiftly to shut down widespread speculation about internal conflict within the national team following their 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. Roberto Fabian Ayala, assistant to head coach Lionel Scaloni, delivered a firm rebuttal to conspiracy theories that had flooded social media since the match in New Jersey.
Addressing the Conspiracy Theories
The rumours circulating online ranged from players arriving with "gloomy faces" to claims that Lionel Messi told teammates to "forget everything" before kickoff. Some users alleged that midfielder Enzo Fernandez received a yellow card merely for speaking, while others pointed to Argentina's failure to register a shot on target across 120 minutes as evidence of deeper problems within the squad.
Ayala addressed these theories directly in comments to Argentine media outlet TyC Sports, stating: "These are things we hear and we say: (it cannot be that they are saying this)... because none of that happened, quite the opposite in fact." His response came after Scaloni himself appeared visibly frustrated when questioned about an alleged "internal dispute" at the Ezeiza training complex, telling journalists they had "gone off topic."
The Reality Behind the Narrative
Ayala made clear that those inside the stadium hold the only legitimate perspective on events. "I do not follow social media, I do not know anything, I have no idea what you are talking about," he said, drawing a sharp line between idle speculation and on-field reality. The assistant coach emphasised that Spain were the superior team and deserved their continental championship, effectively ending debate about whether Argentina's loss stemmed from internal strife rather than tactical execution.
This public statement represents a deliberate strategy by Argentina's coaching staff to prevent unfounded theories from destabilizing the squad ahead of their Copa America preparations and future international fixtures. By addressing the matter head-on, Scaloni's team aims to restore focus to competitive football rather than social media conjecture.
