BUENOS AIRES, July 26 (Reuters) – Diego Maradona said he
wanted to continue coaching Argentinas national soccer team but
only if he could keep absolute control over the choice of his
assistants.

Maradona was due to meet the head of the Argentine Football
Association (AFA), Julio Grondona, on Monday to determine
whether he would stay on after Argentina suffered a bruising 4-0
loss to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals.

œI want to continue. Whether I stay will be decided in the
meeting Ill have with Grondona, and the outcome of that will
depend on what he wants and whether he accepts what I ask of
him, Maradona told Argentine television on Sunday in his first
comments to local reporters since the World Cup defeat.

I trust that what you’ve read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

œContinuing means taking charge and with the people I want,
Maradona said, alluding to local media reports that the AFA
would ask him to replace some members of his coaching team.

œTheres no way Ill continue as coach of the national team
if they want to take (Alejandro) Mancuso or (Hector) Enrique
away from meor if they want to impose someone or other on
me.

Maradona gained world fame as a player in the 1980s but he
has had a patchy performance as coach of Argentina.

He defended his teams performance in the World Cup, despite
the painful exit from the tournament in South Africa earlier
this month.

œWe didnt deserve to finish that way, we had done good
work, he said.
(Reporting by Luis Ampuero; Writing by Hilary Burke; Editing by
Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)