“It is difficult to play alongside Messi”<\/a>.<\/p>\n“What I’m going to say maybe will be strange, but for me, it is difficult to play alongside Messi in the Argentina team,” Dybala said. “Mostly because we play in the same position. I have to adapt myself to his style and I also have to make him feel comfortable”.<\/p>\n
Many reporters, especially in Argentina, took this declaration as a strong message to Sampaoli, who was never pleased at all with Dybala on the pitch during CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying.<\/p>\n
At the end of the game, Bar\u00e7a won 3-0 to open Group D of the current edition of the UEFA Champions League, with Messi scoring twice as he destroyed Juve and Dybala.<\/p>\n
Dybala had to demonstrate to the Argentinian coach that he deserved to play in his first World Cup, but a thigh strain injury sent him off the field for six weeks early this year.<\/p>\n
Recovery of La Joya<\/h2>\n
When La Joya returned again, it looked like he was going to take time before showing what he’s capable to do. That didn’t happen. After his return, he was on fire, just what Juventus needed.<\/p>\n
Dybala has scored four times since he touched the pitch on February 18, and all of those goals meant victories for Juve.<\/p>\n
Dybala netted a goal in stoppage time to beat Lazio 1-0, and after earning those three points, La Joya knocked off Tottenham in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League in the only chance he had in the game to secure a 2-1 win and advance to the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Back in Italy, the Argentinian scored twice in a 2-0 victory over Udinese to continue his great moment.<\/p>\n
Now the time is against Real Madrid, the team who beat Juve in the last year final of the Champions League.<\/p>\n
Juventus and Real Madrid will face off again, this time in the quarter-finals, and it could be the greatest moment for Dybala to prove to coach Sampaoli that he deserves a spot in Argentina’s squad.<\/p>\n
Dybala has 12 goals this season in the Serie A. He’s among the top scorers, but he has reached the net only one time in the Champions League, that important goal in London to shock Tottenham.<\/p>\n
Against Madrid the history will be different, Juventus still has the wound from last year’s defeat and now they have the opportunity to take revenge.<\/p>\n
Turbulent Time With the National Team<\/h2>\n
Dybala clearly looked uncomfortable on the field when he was alongside Messi. The young striker had to play in another position and it didn’t work for La Joya.<\/p>\n
In three games he played in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying, Dybala didn’t score. He had the chance to show up in when Argentina was facing elimination, but\u00a0he simply didn’t fit in the field.<\/p>\n
It was not a performance that Sampaoli and the whole country was expecting.<\/p>\n
However, Dybala is a game changing player. He has shown he can best any team with just a strike. But for now, he has to do even more if he aspire to go to the Russia World Cup.<\/p>\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a>