I am not a magician: Maradona

Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona insists he cannot work the same wondrous wizardry he once possessed as a world-class player in his heyday on this current Cheetahs squad without further financial support.

By Alex Leach

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Published: Fri 4 May 2012, 1:26 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 1:57 PM

The Argentinian legend, 51, established himself as one of the globe’s greatest-ever footballers in the mid-to-late 1980s and early ’90s with some dazzling displays for his club at that time, Italian outfit Napoli, and country.

However, some 20 years on, his plight as a football club manager here is somewhat less prestigious as he appeals for a squad overhaul in the dying embers of a disappointing season domestically for Wasl.

Maradona maintains he cannot continue on in the same vein either, with a failure to comply with his transfer demands at boardroom level almost certain to result in a swift resignation submittal.

“I am not a magician,” Wasl’s boss said after his side’s 4-3 victory over Oman’s Al Nahda in the GCC Champions League on Tuesday evening.

“If things remain the same, then I will have to leave my position to someone else.

“I don’t know what the chairman (Marwan bin Bayat) has in mind, but I do know that what’s needed is change no matter what. Change can be for the better or worse, but change is imminent.

“I hope that my next meeting with the club’s management will be a positive one and I will be able to continue improving the side. I will be able to show the reasons behind my request and why we need new players.

“So, at the end of the season, I will either be packing my bags to leave or I’ll remain in my job.

“I’m not here for a holiday. I’m here to work and that is what I want to do. If I cannot do that, then I might not be able to continue.”

Maradona conceded the Wasl board were perfectly entitled to scour around for prospective replacements in light of this second ultimatum in four months, with Marcello Lippi and Gianfranco Zola touted as possible successors to him at Zabeel Stadium.

“The club have the right to do that,” he explained. “They are the owners and I am not offended by this.

“If they feel a new manager is the solution, then that is their right, but I would ask them to inform me.

“If they feel the solution is replacing the coach and keeping the same players, there is nothing I can do about this.

“If I were to go though, I would maybe tell the club that Pep Guardiola is available.”

alex@khaleejtimes.com


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