Diego Maradona - Why should I think about Germany?
Maradona - Why should I think about Germany?
Posted: 2010-06-28 07:10
Argentina coach Diego Maradona has been the architect of Argentina's superb progression to the last 8 after winning all their four matches with conviction at this World Cup.
With Germany, who knocked Argentina out four years ago, the next opponents, Maradona first chose to be difficult before admitting the Germans will be tougher.
"Why should I think about Germany right now? I can always think about Germany tomorrow when I have my time to celebrate the victory tonight. For now you can go on and write whatever you want about what I may think about Germany," Maradona said after the 3-1 win against Mexico.
Later on he then noted that he knew Germany was stronger but believes his star player Lionel Messi deserves to be protected more by match officials.
"We will field a team to beat Germany. We know that Germany is a different team to Mexico and are stronger," he said before launching an outcry about Messi.
"When Messi is playing he gets kicked around and the referees choose to ignore that. I was a player 20 years ago and I know how it feels when Messi gets the ball everybody just wants to kick him. This is a scandal!
“When I was playing I had three players on me. What is being done to Messi is a scandal because the players don't even look for the ball but they just kick him. As soon as Messi gets the ball everybody kicks him and that is not the way to play football. I want Messi to be respected," says Maradona.
"It was a great match with high intensity but we played well. We knew that we would be able. Argentina was superior over 90 minutes. I am putting my faith on the entire team. We looked at Mexico studied their videos and knew how they play coming into this match. We know them very well," he adds while reflecting on the Mexico match before then talking on the way forward.
"As soon as Messi gets the ball everybody kicks him and that is not the way to play football"
- Diego Maradona
"But I think it is up to the 23 players that they get together and do the job. We as the technical team believe in all 23 players that we have here. I also believe that these four matches that we have played here so far have helped us a lot in getting to together.
"We will then have to see how we plan for the next match considering there might be players who have injuries and others that didn't participate in the match tonight. We will try and put together the best team from there to showcase the talent against Germany.
"It is beautiful to be part and parcel to be part of this group. I really feel proud about the work that has been done so far. When I took up this job they said I have no idea about coaching but now that I am winning the matches it is all different. Victory is always what I am looking for," he says adding that he is aware of the differences that have come from being a player to coaching.
"The difference is that on the pitch you scream things that you cannot say on the bench because we cannot say whatever we want there.
"By the way I would like to dedicate this win to my friend Valentino Rossi who was injured in a motor cycle race," concluded the legendary Maradona.
: 2010-06-28 09:39
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