Alexis Mac Allister has been outspoken of people 'rejoicing' at Argentina's World Cup failure but now his task is to take his anger and get back to the level Liverpool fans didn't see enough of last season
Alexis Mac Allister
Alexis Mac Allister(Image: Getty Images)
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Argentina players have been getting flak from all angles for some of their World Cup shenanigans. But don't expect apologies. Not now. Not ever.
Those Albieceleste players who fell just short of back-to-back World Cup triumphs have a siege mentality that you have to admire. Particularly when they feel those on the outside are against them.
As a rule, their messages to supporters and their nation tend to be a little more emotional than those put out by English players. And Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has been no different in the wake of Sunday's defeat to Spain and the furore that followed.
“Thank you to those from other countries who send us messages mocking or rejoicing in our pain," wrote Mac Allister. “Without meaning to, you help us feel more and more proud to be Argentinian every day.”
Again, Mac Allister and his team-mates won't be following coach Roberto Ayala's lead and saying sorry for their conduct any time soon.
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It's as simple as 1-2-3.
When Mac Allister says people were ‘mocking or rejoicing in our pain’, he was mistaken. People were not ‘mocking or rejoicing’, they were simply pointing out that Argentina, on this occasion, proved to be rotten, violent losers.
The mention of 'other countries' is interesting and, no doubt, after the semi-final, England is top of his list. So it will be intriguing to see what sort of reception he and the Premier League's other Argentine stars are afforded when they return to club duty. No doubt there will be reminders at away grounds of how they behaved in New Jersey on the world's biggest stage.
But Mac Allister certainly won't face such at Anfield where unquestionably he will be backed by Reds supporters. But Liverpool fans and new boss Andoni Iraola could be forgiven for wanting more from the midfielder, whom they will hope can take this summer's pain and run with it after a 2025-26 season that was pretty much a season-long trough in form.
Mac Allister only contributed two goals and four assists in 37 Premier League games last season. The previous year it was five goals and five assists in 35 appearances.
Yet at the World Cup he was tireless. A player who looked off the pace as Liverpool dropped from title contenders to fifth spot, covered more distance at the finals than anyone not named Rodri. His importance to Argentina can't be underestimated.
And after reports linking him to Real Madrid, the new Kop boss made clear his desire to keep the 27 year-old at the heart of his new side.
“I think Alexis has been one of the best players at the club for the last few years, and he has had a very good World Cup, so it is normal that other clubs want our best players," said Iraola. "But I want to keep my good players.”
If he believes Mac Allister is one of his best players, then that's more than fair enough. But there's no doubt it's the Mac Allister of 24-25 he'll want to see. Hopefully his belief about people's 'mockery and rejoicing' will inspire him to get back to his best.
His new manager, and Liverpool supporters, will certainly be hoping that's the case.
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