Internationals

Interim Argentina Coach Sergio Batista Reveals Diego Maradona Hasn't Returned Phone Calls

Argentina caretaker coach Sergio Batista ignored by Diego Maradona.

02-Sep-2010 8:14:00 AM

By Paul Madden

More On : Argentina, Sergio Batista, Diego Armando Maradona

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Interim Argentina coach Sergio Batista has revealed that he has made attempts to contact Diego Maradona but the former coach has not returned any of his phone calls.

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Maradona left the national team hotseat in July after 18 months in charge due to a disagreement over backroom staff but Batista, a team-mate of Maradona's when they won the World Cup in 1986, has declared that he has no problems with his predecessor and hopes to speak with him on a professional level when the time is right but now he just wants to make contact on a personal level.

"I called him twice, not for technical issues on the team or related to the players, but to see how he was, but I received no response from his side," Batista is quoted as saying by El Mundo.

"I have no problem with Maradona or any other coach of Argentina. I would like to meet with every one them to exchange views and Diego is one more of them. The professional matters did not interest me when I called, because that would be for another time. But for the personal, human side, yes [I sought to speak to him]."

Batista will take charge for the second time when la Albiceleste host world champions Spain next week having already overseen their 1-0 victory over Ireland in Dublin last month.