Maradona hits out at Pele and Platini

Argentina coach Diego Maradona hit out at Pele and UEFA president Michel Platini as the war of words between the former playing greats continued yeserday.

Maradona was speaking to the press at the Loftus Versfeld stadium on the eve of the South Americans' second World Cup Group B match against South Korea.

But it was Pele and Platini rather than the likes of Park Ji-Sung who seem to be concerning Maradona more.

A couple of days ago Pele was quoted in the Brazilian press as suggesting that Argentina's appointment of Maradona was a mistake and that the former superstar only took the job because he needed the money.

"I'm not surprised, Pele should go back to the museum," was Maradona's retort before he also took a pop at Platini, who a few months ago had insinuated that Maradona was a great player but not a great coach.

"As for Platini, I'm not surprised because I always had a distant relationship with him, we would just say hi and goodbye. But we know what the French are like and Platini is French, he believes he's better than the rest of us."

Maradona was asked about the lack of goals and excitement in this World Cup and once again he turned on both Pele and Platini, as well as the official Jabulani ball.

"Well, personally, I'm having a great time, the World Cup is something amazing and I'm not worried about the fact that there have been few goals," he said.

"I'm sure we'll have goals, the players will see to that. Of course in the first matches you're more careful perhaps than you should be. Teams study and analyse each other, that's why there are fewer goals.

"Another issue is the ball being used in this World Cup, although I don't want to go into that because everyone is talking about it.

"But it's important and it does play a part and I'd ask Pele and Platini to go and play with it and take a look at the ball and stop talking about me."