Diego Maradona says his former club Napoli have made a mistake in replacing Rafa Benitez with Maurizio Sarri this summer.
Napoli have lost one and drawn two of their opening three Serie A fixtures and Maradona, who played for the Azzurri from 1984 to 1991, believes the blame lies firmly with the former Empoli coach.
Sarri took charge in the summer after only one season coaching in Serie A, in which he saved the Tuscans from relegation, and Maradona feels he is out of his depth at such a big club as Napoli.
"I don't know what happened this summer but Benitez was a guarantee for this side," Maradona told local Naples television station Piuenne, in quotes reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I respect Sarri, but he's not the right coach for a winning Napoli. They gave Sarri a huge birthday present [by appointing him].
"I would have kept Benitez. Besides, it's not like he's out of work -- he's sat on the bench at Real Madrid now so somebody has clearly got it wrong, and we're seeing what a mistake they have made now.
"The two points in three games seem to be fair to me because Napoli have played some shocking games."
Those performances have concerned the former Argentina international, who was part of Napoli's last Scudetto-winning side in 1990, but also a member of the same side that was almost relegated just after he arrived in 1985.
"It reminds me of my first Napoli, when we were fighting to avoid relegation," he added. "This is my biggest fear."