Diego Maradona blasted Argentina soccer federation (AFA) president Julio Grondona and national team manager
Maradona said Grondona came up to him following Argentina’s 4-0 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals of the World Cup and assured him in front of the teamthat his job was safe. “On our return to Argentina,” Maradona added, “things started to take a bizarre twist and on Monday I met with Grondona.”
Grondona told Maradona that he wanted himto continue, but that seven members of his technical staff could not stay. “When he told me this,” Maradona said, “he was saying that he didn’t want me to carry on in the job. He knows that it isimpossible for me to stay without my assistants.”
Grondona’s response? “I never lied to Maradona.” And Bilardo? “The AFA is a serious business, you can’t invite your buddies to come toyour place of work… Diego had everything that he wanted, he could turn up with whoever he wanted, up to the goalkeeping coach.”