Capello Insists Argentina Were A Better Side During Maradona's Era

Capello Insists Argentina Were A Better Side During Maradona's Era

By Joshua Walters

Former England national team coach Fabio Capello has stressed the Diego Maradona-led Argentina were a better side than the present team Lionel Messi leads.

Maradona led Argentina to world cup glory in 1986 and the Albiceleste followed that triumph by winning the Copa America in 1993; their last major trophy, but at the age of 31, Messi is still awaiting his first trophy at international level.

The expectations for the side have been growing because of the presence of Lionel Messi in the squad which has been a difficult task for them to accomplish.

The South American giants were pipped to the World Cup title by Germany in 2014 with Mario Gotze scoring the only goal of the game.

Aside losing to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, the Le Albiceleste have also lost two major cup finals having been defeated by Chile in the Copa America in 2015 and 2016.

And Capello who managed Real Madrid in his managerial career in an interview with Radio Marca claims The White and Sky Blues were a better side when Maradona was the captain than the current team spearheaded by Messi.

"People talk about both, but Maradona's Argentina were stronger and had more quality than Messi's."

"He's had good players in front of him, but in midfield and behind he has missed a defence, that's the important problem."

Though the Italian trainer believes the five-time Ballon d’Or winner's Argentina is nowhere near Maradona’s era but hailed the qualities of the football magician.

"Messi is extraordinary, he lives thinking about playing and not about business, like for example Neymar does."