Bielsa pays tribute to the ‘artist’ who inspired his nation
MARCELO BIELSA has paid a heartfelt tribute to Diego Maradona, saying his death “makes us feel weak”.
Maradon u
The Leeds Lee boss credits his fellow countryma countryman with making the people of Argenti Argentina dream because of his brilliance on o the pitch.
He told how the 1986 World Cup winner em empowered them and made them believe beli they could achieve anything.
Bielsa ( left) is convinced Maradona Maradona’s story does not end with his death at 60 and predicts he will “continu “continue to be an idol” because of his end enduring legacy.
“He couldn’t have been better,” said Bielsa. “He was for us and will continue to be an idol. “The fact he’s not here with us any more, it gives us gr great sadness. Losing an idol is something th that makes us feel weak.
““In terms of what he sign signifies to us, Diego mad made us live the fantasy that an i idol makes you feel.
“The my myth that is that person makes us b believe what he does, we can all do.
“That’s why the loss of an idol always h hurts the people who are exclud excluded the most. They are the ones who most need someone to show them that they can triumph.”
Bielsa, 65, worked with Maradona only once, managing him in an Argentina XI against a Rest of the World side for his testimonial 19 years ago at Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera stadium.
It was Maradona’s last match before retiring and Bielsa will never forget the adoration and love the people showed him.
“In that game, what really stood out was his relationship with the public,” said the former Argentina boss. “But then everything he did as a footballer was a beauty, which cannot be matched.”
Like everyone, Bielsa remembers his second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final (above, left).
“To de s c r i b e something as a work of art is something you can’t do to too many things,” he said.
“For me that goal was similar to the impression you get when you see an architectural work of art, wh e re you are astounded.
“For example, when you see a beautiful church, you are taken aback and that is what it was like for me when Diego scored.
“Diego was an artist and his art received infinite recognition.”
Bielsa is particularly saddened by Maradona’s passing because he feels mercurial talents such as his are becoming rarer.
He explained: “What makes me really sad is that people like Maradona and Messi, who showed their individual brilliance through dribbling, they are versions of players that stop repeating themselves.
“For example, Kylian Mbappe could be said to be the best player in the world right now, but his art is not comparable to that of Maradona’s.”