Argentina legend Diego Maradona does not fancy the prospect of Lionel Scaloni being in charge of the national team. The South American heavyweights were expected to make a big-name appointment after the departure of manager Jorge Sampaoli following a disappointing World Cup campaign but they have for now stuck with Scaloni on an interim basis.

Speaking to reporters, Maradona highlighted the disappointment after Argentina failed to meet their expectations at the World Cup and believes they should have recruited a better head coach than Scaloni, who does not have the reputation by his side, he said: “It hurt me a lot what happened at the World Cup because there wasn’t respect.

“Now they put Scaloni. Scaloni is a great guy but he can’t even direct traffic. How are they going to give the Argentina national team to Scaloni? Are we all crazy? And Scaloni says “I’m ready.” But I never even saw you score a goal for Argentina. With all the respect, eh. As a guy, let’s go have a barbeque. But as a coach and of the Argentina national team, no.”

“Argentina had gone into the summer World Cup with plenty of question marks regarding their backline “ and that certainly hampered them during the group phase where they only scrapped through after a “late triumph over Nigeria “. Thereafter, they would last for just one more game against France where they were beaten 4-3 in the round of 16 and the country has since gone through a transitional phase.

During this period, Scaloni has decided to offer opportunities to younger recruits rather than focusing on the senior players who have been instrumental to their recent progress and it remains to be seen whether the approach bares any fruit as the nation await for their first major trophy since the 1993 Copa America title.