Maradona talks of quitting Argentina job

Under-pressure Argentina coach Diego Maradona has announced that he might quit after must-win World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.

“After the qualifiers, I will talk to (Argentine football federation chairman) Julio (Grondona),” Maradona told reporters Tuesday.

“I’ll see if I carry on, and it will be on my conditions,” he said.

“When Julio offered me this job, I was the happiest man in the world, but since there have been things that I have not liked,” Maradona said, without further explanation.

He was appointed in November last year but recent poor form, including back-to-back losses at home to Brazil and in Paraguay, has left Argentina fifth in the regional standings – and there are only four automatic slots for the finals in South Africa.

Argentina, World Cup champions in 1978 and 1986, last failed to make the finals in 1970.

But they are currently headed only for the play-offs against the fourth-placed Central American zone team.

Maradona is battling to find the right formula with morale having sagged following four losses in five games – including a 6-1 hiding in Bolivia.

Argentina face Peru in Buenos Aires on Saturday and travel to Montevideo four days later.