Diego's press conference. Complete transcript

Diego MARADONA gave a press conference on Sunday night and this is the complete transcript of what he said.

"I apologise for this weather, guys! I wouldn't have wished for this"

On the Canada friendly:

"I told my players what's going to be our lineup for tomorrow vs. Canada. We are going to play at the best of our possibilities because that's what our shirt deserves. We won't have our first choice central defenders, but we are prepared to play a great game. But I'm not going to tell you what's going to be my starting XI here today."

On Diego MILITO's performance in the Champions League final:

"I'm not surprised for what MILITO has done. He played a great season. But so did TEVEZ, so did MESSI and Kun AGÜERO. I will use whoever I see is doing better. I don't have starters and substitutes. All of them can play."

"MILITO ended up confirming I was right in including him among the 23 players I'm taking to the World Cup".

"The match itself was discrete in my opinion. But Inter won it fair and square with two great goals by Diego MILITO, who also played some great passes. I think he was the best player on that pitch on Saturday. Without a doubt."

On the pressure he is under:

"I feel no pressures. Neither do my players. Pressure feels the man who has to wake up everyday to see if he can earn enough money for his children to eat that day. I don't have pressure".

On how important Lionel MESSI is for Argentina:

"If the ball goes through Lionel MESSI, we've got more chances to win. We need to train hard and get the message across to all of my players' heads that we need to be a team and play like a team. With the added value that we have MESSI playing for us".

"I think MESSI is getting to this World Cup better than I got to Mexico in 1986. He's got a better supporting cast. But each match is unique. He needs to know how to read games and to know what he needs to give to the team".

"I did that in 1986. I insist: if the ball goes through him, we've got more chances of winning".

On how he feels these days:

"I'm heading to my fifth World Cup, first as a manager. And I've got great players that are really motivated. I couldn't be happier."

"I'm great. I'm happy. I'm happy to have 20 players already working with me. To be able to build up our squad. To train with them and see they are happy. They are anxious to get to each training session and I can assure you they are training at a supersonic speed. I'm thrilled with my players contraction to work".

"I've got to have them with me. I've got to keep working with them in Pretoria. We can't speak about starters or substitutes. I've got 23 warriors and any of them can play".

"Ariel GARCÉ could have a chance to start. I mean, all the players I called up can do a job for me. We need to wait for those training sessions in Pretoria that could be morning and afternoon."

"A World Cup is won and lost in the little details. I need to have all my players at the top of their motivation to give me what I need from them at any moment".

"I'm reaching this World Cup in my best moment. I'm in a good place regarding everything I was lacking of before. I'm close to my daughters. My parents are healthy. I've got my girlfriend. I've got a jog. I can wake up everyday".

"I grew a beard because my dog almost ate my mouth and left me a big scar. Now since Dalma and Gianina (note: his daughters) told me I look good with a beard, I'm keeping it."

On testing different players and different systems since he took over:

"I've tested and I'll keep testing. We've got a lot of players who deserve to wear the Albiceleste, but we can only take 23 to the World Cup. I have tested a lot because I had my domestic national team. How many managers did that before?"

On the difference between preparations for the 1986 World Cup and now:

"In 1986 we spent 70 days together as a group. We are 20 days way from the World Cup and I still don't have my 23 players together. But what can you do? We need to adapt to what FIFA says. Anyway, we the few training sessions we had together these days, I think my players got my message and they know what we will be playing for".

On Argentina's chances of winning the World Cup:

"We know we're not favourites to win the World Cup. But we are going to present a good fight to anyone who stands in our way. "

On his personal head-to-head record with DUNGA:

"I'm tied with DUNGA. He beat me as a manager, but I beat him as a player in 1990. It's a draw. We'll see what happens if we have to meet in South Africa."

On what he thinks about how people sees him as a manager:

"I don't care what people think about me as a manager. I couldn't care less. I've got my 23 players and I'm ready to die with them."

On how he feels after the first few days working with most of his 23 players:

"What I wanted was to have them with me. Talk to them. Have meetings. Things I couldn't do during the year. I see a good bunch of guys. I see this is a solid group of men with great character. I think we are going to have a great World Cup".

On how he sees people in Argentina with the Bicentenary celebrations and ahead of the WC:

"Our people are excited because of the Bicentenary and because we are going to the World Cup. We are already focused on the World Cup. Our fans will show their support to us on Monday. It'll be a great motivation for my players so they can keep improving as a team and as a group of human beings".

On his colleague Marcelo BIELSA and the job he is doing in Chile:

"Marcelo BIELSA is doing a great job in Chile. He changed the collective minds of the people of Chile and I wish him the very best. When we were going through a tough time in the qualifiers, he called us and gave us all his support. "

On whether he would be willing to sacrifice playing beautiful football just to get a result:

"I don't want to win at any cost. If I quit on the beautiful game with the kind of players I have, it'd be a sin. If we treat the ball as we know, we will be OK. If we start using long balls, we won't".

"I've got a great deal of respect and admiration for José MOURINHO, but I think he defended too much against Barcelona. Even having the players to try something different. But football is like this and whoever is the winner, is right. I think it was a very thin thread and if it wasn't for that goal they didn't give Bojan in the last minute, we would all be talking about how Barcelona would have beaten Bayern Munich on Saturday".