Diego Maradona: "With me, Messi played five times better than with Sabella"

Diego Maradona believes Lionel Messi played way better under him than current coach Sabella.

Diego Maradona claims that Argentina’s Lionel Messi was a much better performer under him than current coach Alejandro Sabella.

“With me, Messi played five times better than with Sabella,” he was quoted saying on Football Espana. “Don’t tell me that now he sacrifices himself for the team.” Maradona told reporters at a friendly in Rio Tercero.”

Maradona was in charge of the team for two years, and led them to a humiliating 4-0 defeat in their quarter-final tie against Germany in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And, ironically Messi had a miserable tournament in South Africa, failing to find the net throughout the tournament.

Argentina, on the other hand, were successful in reaching the final of the World Cup this year, however, failing to Germany yet again with a much respectable scoreline of 1-0. Messi enjoyed a stellar tournament too, scoring 4 goals from 7 matches, and was also awarded the Golden Ball award.

Yet, Maradona suggests that Sabella is not the right man for Argentina, and recommends former manager Cesar Luis Menotti who led Argentina to their 1978 World Cup triumph as his replacement.

“I don't like Sabella [as Argentina’s manager]. There’s someone forgotten – [César Luis] Menotti, who is not working because he fights against the mafia [the Argentine FA].”