Argentina football icon Diego Maradona has said Lionel Messi needs to ignore his critics as he is in a “bad, disorganised team” that depends on him all the time after Argentina's 1-3 loss in a friendly against Venezuela on Saturday.
Maradona, who has been a heavy critic of Messi, said that the is an amazing and extraordinary player who was let down by his team.
“Messi has to ignore the critics. It's not his fault, he's in a bad, disorganised team, a team that always depends on him in every way,” Maradona said directing most of his anger against those in charge.
“He's an amazing and extraordinary player, he's got nothing to prove to anyone.”
Messi had made a comeback in Argentina colours for the friendly against Venezuela after a long hiatus post the World Cup. However, the talismanic footballer and the team failed to live up to expectations as they conceded defeat to Venezuela.
Though Maradona criticised players for the poor performance, he reserved his anger for the management as he called Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia inept.
“Those who are inept and are running the AFA thought that they would win against Venezuela? Venezuela are a proper team and Argentina came into this through the window, not the front door, because they betrayed and constantly lied to people,” Maradona said.
He further said that the Argentina won't win a game unless the people on top start doing things right. “I don't know what Tapia will be, if he will be a maths teacher or what, but he has no idea [what he is doing].”
“I'm sorry for the Argentine public, who continue to believe these liars. I'm sorry for the players who have to show their faces when they shouldn't have to,” Maradona said.
Argentina will next play Morocco on Tuesday in Tangier.
