Luis Fernandez, 61, has fond memories of the Argentinian, who died this Wednesday, whom he had faced twice with PSG (in a friendly against Boca Juniors), then with the France team in a preparatory match for the World Cup 1986 in Mexico.
How do you feel after the death of Diego Maradona?
LUIS FERNANDEZ.
I am very sad tonight.
It is a great loss for world football.
He has marked the minds of all generations of footballers and football fans.
One word sums up his career for me, it's genius.
We all admired him.
Diego could do anything on a field: pass, dribble, score… He was able to do everything easily.
As well as being the boss on the pitch, he was also the boss in the locker room.
You took part in the 1986 World Cup, like him ...
I would have liked to face him in the final!
We stop with the Blues in the semi-final
(Editor's note: beaten 2-0 by the FRG)
.
He was able to lead his team to the coronation.
He was phenomenal from the start to the end of the competition, including scoring decisive and exceptional goals like the one against England where he managed to eliminate half of the team.
VIDEO. 1990 World Cup: Maradona treats journalists before Argentina-USSR
Four minutes before, he had marked with his hand ...
He loved playing for his selection which he absolutely wanted to lead on top of the world.
In football, everything goes very quickly.
He could only score with his hand on this action so he tried it and it worked.
If he had had VAR at the time, the goal would have been denied and we wouldn't even talk about it thirty-four years later.
Newsletter - Most of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
How did he revolutionize football?
In addition to his exceptional gestures on the ground, I would say by his size because he was small.
Maradona has shown that you can become an exceptional player without being a physical monster.
READ ALSO>
Diego Maradona: a legendary life in 15 photos
Who was the best player between Maradona and Platini?
They were both exceptional!
Maradona and Platini could have played on the same team with the Argentinian in a playmaker role and Michel in a striker role.
It would have made a great team!
He has also tested positive several times.
Does this greatly tarnish his career?
I don't want to talk about this.
Her image is that of a football legend and she will remain so.