Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 5y

Maradona hails 'Tata-style' Mexico while slamming former team Argentina

SAN JOSE - Diego Maradona believes Mexico is on the right path under his former team-mate Gerardo "Tata" Martino and once again slammed the direction of the Argentina national team.

Dorados de Sinaloa coach Maradona played with Martino at Newell's Old Boys and was impressed with El Tri's 3-1 victory over Chile on Friday.

"I saw Tata's team and it was compact, Tata-style," said Maradona in a news conference after Dorados' 1-0 win over FC Juarez on Saturday. "I had no doubt that if they allow Tata to work he will bring a lot of satisfaction to Mexico."

Maradona praised Martino's leadership, but stressed his fellow Argentine will need time to get to know and work with Mexico's players.

"He's put together [the team] quickly and I think it went well," said Maradona. "It's not easy to score three goals against Chile."

The 1986 World Cup winning captain gave a strong hint that he'd like Martino to still be in charge of the Argentina national team, slamming the organization of the current side and suggesting he didn't watch the 3-1 loss to Venezuela on Friday.

"I don't watch horror movies," stated Maradona. "Which idiot thought Argentina was going to defeat Venezuela?"

The 58-year-old once again blamed the organization of the Argentine football association (AFA) and said his generation of players know what playing for the national team means, adding that AFA president Claudio Tapia doesn't have a "damn idea."

"I lament it for the Argentine people that still believe in those liars, I lament it for the players that have to show face when they shouldn't have to," added Maradona, stating he doesn't believe Argentina is likely to win a single game at present.

Martino's Mexico faces Paraguay on Tuesday in Santa Clara, California, while Argentina plays Morocco in Tangier on the same day.

^ Back to Top ^