"Messi will play, because he always wants to play and I love that. We had been thinking of giving him a rest but to have a player of the class of Leo, the best in the world by a long way without doubt, it would have been a sin not to give him to the team, to the people, not to give ourselves the pleasure."
And with these words, Diego Maradonna became not only my favourite ever player, but also my favourite manager.
With his team all but assured of topping the group with a game to spare, Maradonna once again showed he is cut from a different cloth by choosing not to rest his dazzling prodigy for what was effectively a meaningless fixture. While other managers would have left their star-man on the bench, fearing injury or a sending-off, Diego did not want to deny the world from seeing his exquisite skills. And for that we should be thankful.
And afterall, Maradonna has nothing to lose. Everything that could possibly be written or said about Diego the player, Diego the manager or Diego the man already has been. In his prime he was snorting drugs, fathering children the world over, shooting journalists and pissing off the English, and yet he still scored some of the most exsquisite goals ever seen. Now, somewhat more portly (if that is even possible) and resplendent in greyish beard, he has already exceeded the predictions of his detractors by guiding Argentina to the finals, and now topping the group.
If he can guide them all the way to the trophy, with Messi playing every minute and, as it currently stands, having a hand in every goal then we will all be richer for it.
Viva Maradonna! Viva Messi!
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