Pele takes another swipe at Maradona

Brazilian footballing legend Pele’s war of words with Argentina coach Diego Maradona continued on Thursday as he said the latter was not a good coach because of the troubled private life he had led.

Pele, who earlier during the World Cup finals said that Maradona had only taken the Argentinian coaching job because he needed the money, said Maradona’s previous troubles – which included treatment for a cocaine addiction – could only have a bad effect on the team.

Argentina – who have won all four of their matches at the World Cup finals thusfar – face an impressive German side in Saturday’s quarter-final in Cape Town.

“He (Maradona) is not a good coach, because he had a bizarre lifestyle which cannot go down well with his team,” three-time World Cup winner Pele told German magazine 11Freunde.

By contrast the 69-year-old Pele said there was much to like about the young and vibrant German side that destroyed England 4-1 in their Last 16 match last Sunday.

“This young German team is a pleasure to watch,” he said.

“It is clear to see that something has changed in German football, it was already beginning to happen at Euro 2008 (where they lost 1-0 to Spain in the final) and the youngsters Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller, they are like their predecessors Wolfgang Overath and Pierre Littbarski.

“They can dribble, deliver pinpoint passes, and produce something surprising at any moment,” added Pele, who nevertheless feels that they are too young to win at this World Cup.