Thaindian News

Kolkata, Jan 15 (IANS) German soccer legend Lothar Mathhaus Friday termed Argentine great Diego Maradona as the best footballer he had seen during his two-decade long career.
Mathhaus played against Maradona in two World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990.

In 1986, Argentina bagged the title with a 3-2 win. Four years later, Mathhaus-led West Germany turned the table on the Latin American nation by scripting a 1-0 victory.

“In 20 years, I did not see a better footballer than Maradona. He was at his best in 1986. Without him, Argentina would not have won the tournament. In 1990, Maradona did not play his best,” Mathhaus told reporters after unveiling the 2010 FIFA World Cup trophy here.

Mathhaus had been entrusted with the task of marking Maradona in 1986, but the Argentine had the last laugh.

But the 48-year-old former midfielder-turned-sweeper said he was quicker than Maradona.

“I was faster than him. Because of that I could catch him many times. When my club Inter Milan met Maradona’s Napoli, he did not score any goal against us.”

To another query about Maradona terming him the best rival he ever had, Mathhaus said: “It feels great when someone like Maradona speaks so highly of me. During our matches, I never wanted to hurt his legs. I was concentrating on fair play. He saw it. He respected me.”

On his angry statement two months ago that Germany should be ashamed of how it treated an idol like him, Mathhaus said: “That was a general comment. In India, I can see the respect shown to my jersey. People who have served the country for long should be given some amount of respect. If they don’t want to kiss me or hug me, it’s all right. But they should respect me”.

He, however, refused to dwell on the attack on the Togo national team January 8.

“People in the right position should comment on this. I am not somebody who can solve the problem. Football has nothing to do with the event.”

One person was killed and nine others injured when Angolan separatists ambushed Togo’s national football team.

On Thierry Henry’s handball pass to William Gallas that destroyed Ireland’s World Cup dream, Mathhaus recalled Maradona’s “hand of god” goal in the 1986 World Cup. “Henry did it as a reflex action. He was completely down after that. And he said he wanted a replay. But the FIFA rules said it was not possible”.