There Isn't Anyone Like Messi

Not everyone will agree with you. You cannot satisfy everyone. But when someone from the same field says you are great, that means something special!! Life is not about hates, but about loves! Love more..

Messi reminds me of me, says Argentina coach Maradona

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina coach Diego Maradona says Lionel Messi’s importance to the national team is reminiscent of himself.

“Messi is my Maradona. There is no other player more important than Messi,” Maradona said in Monday’s edition of sports newspaper Ole. “I could say that in my team, there is Messi and 10 others.”

Messi, one of the best players in the world, has never performed as well with Argentina as he has with Barcelona, who won an unprecedented triple of Champions League, Spanish League and King’s Cup titles last season.

“I love working with him,” Maradona said. “He makes everything seem easy. He’s got the ball stuck to his foot, part of his body. It’s like, here comes his foot and the ball as well. This is something I haven’t seen in any other player, and I’ve seen lots of players.”

Maradona joked that the Barcelona star is so famous now, he can’t be bothered to return his calls.

“He’s impossible to reach,” Maradona said. “It’s easier to speak with (US President Barack) Obama than with Leo.”

Argentina host Brazil on Sept 5 in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Brazil lead South American qualifying with 27 points. Argentina are in fourth place with 22. Only the top four teams automatically reach next year’s tournament in South Africa. The fifth placed team face a playoff with the No. 4 side from the North, Central and Caribbean region to advance.

Argentina also have qualifying games remaining with Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

“We have four very tough games, but we are aiming at the Brazilians. Brazil are the team to bring down,” Maradona said. “(Brazil are) a team that play well, that have talent, that have luck, and that have played so well for so long that they have many World Cups.

“But we are Argentina — you can’t forget that!”

Maradona again suggested it was unlikely that playmaker Juan Ramon Riquelme would be recalled to the team.

The 31-year-old Riquelme retired from international football in March, saying he and Maradona did not get along. Maradona had criticised Riquelme’s play and overlooked him for several friendlies after being selected as coach in November.

Julio Grondona, the head of the Argentine Football Federation, has tried to intervene and bring Riquelme back on the team.

However, Maradona said the situation is “closed, although nothing is definite”.

“But Riquelme has many things to explain to the players and staff,” Maradona added. — AP

Source: http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/7/29/sports/4407886&sec=sports