Manchester City players Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi said that stepping up their game and helping Argentina earn three points against Brazil was essential this week in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.
Aguero scored his 150th goal for the Premier League leaders over the weekend, but Pep Guardiola's men were not able to get past Middlesbrough after Marten de Roon headed a last-gasp equaliser for a 1-1 draw.
The Argentina striker said he hopes to redeem himself as the Albiceleste face Brazil in Belo Horizonte on Nov. 10 and Colombia five days later in key qualifying matches.
"We must try to earn the points now and beating Brazil would give us the confidence we need," Aguero said upon landing in Brazil with teammates Otamendi and Pablo Zabaleta. "This is a great chance to earn three points and return to the top."
Aguero said he was grateful to Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza for "continuing to bet on him," despite his struggles.
After a 1-0 loss to Paraguay last month, which saw Aguero miss a penalty, Argentina are out now of the automatic qualification spots with eight games to go as a result of a recent CONMEBOL ruling.
#Eliminatorias @aguerosergiokun, @Notamendi30 y @pablo_zabaleta ya están en Cidade do Galo para sumarse a la delegación. ¡#VamosArgentina! pic.twitter.com/dZPQgFwTYO
- Selección Argentina (@Argentina) November 7, 2016
Last week, FIFA ruled that Bolivia must forfeit their World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Peru after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player. As a result, Chile climbed from sixth to fifth in the table and are now level on points with Argentina but, thanks to goals they did not concede, they now move above Argentina on goal difference.
Argentina, as a result, are now outside the qualification places for the first time since the new system was implemented in 1998. Only the top four countries qualify automatically for Russia, with the fifth-place team going to a continental playoff against a team from Oceania.
Aguero admitted he did not understand how it all transpired.
"In general, those who do not follow the rules have points taken away from them and there is nothing further," he said. "[But] we are all bunched together [in the qualification table], so we have a great chance to add three points and move up."
Meanwhile, City defender Otamendi said the only result that matters is a victory over Brazil.
"This is a clasico, and we will be trying to win and to improve," the 28-year-old said. "I hope that during the preparation we can correct our previous mistakes so that we play well on Thursday.
"These matches are important for our position in the table and we cannot be so far from the top."