Maradona: Argentina may change to benefit Messi
Reuters - Friday 26 March 2010, 02:40
BUENOS AIRES - Argentina will change
tactics if necessary to let Lionel Messi shine at the World
Cup, coach Diego Maradona said on Thursday.
Messi has been brilliant for Barcelona but struggled to
make an impact for Argentina, sparking criticism of his
performances and Maradona's failure to make the 22-year-old fit
in.
"If I had to change for his good, I'd change," Maradona
told local radio station Cooperativa.
"But I think that with the system we have and the players
we have all he needs is to explode, and surely he will do that
at the World Cup."
After his return from a tour of Europe to see his leading
players, Maradona said he had "the most emotional conversation"
with Messi since he met him.
"I saw a Messi totally convinced of what he wants. We
believe in him to the death," said Maradona.
"He's not Lio any more, he's Messi. He has rights he's
earned on the pitch and he'll have to make his leadership felt
on it."
Messi scored hat-tricks in successive La Liga games
recently and is earning comparisons with some of the greatest
players to play the game, including Maradona.
"If anyone surpasses me I want him to be Argentine. If
Messi does well, I win," said Maradona.
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