Diego Maradona wasted little time in turning on his critics after Argentina secured their place at the World Cup finals.
Maradona had faced a crucial qualifying double header against Peru and Uruguay to avoid the indignity of Argentina failing to make the finals for the first time in 40 years.
But Maradona picked up victories in both games to earn what was ultimately a comfortable qualification.
Mario Ariel Bolatti’s goal in the 84th minute earned Argentina’ a 1-0 win over a Uruguayan side who will now face Costa Rica in the intercontinental play-off.
But with qualification assured, Maradona has hit back at those who have questioned his credentials to manage the national team.
“I want to say that all the people that criticised me and treated me as garbage can eat their words,” he told a press conference after the win over Uruguay.
“This victory is for the people that trusted in us, but it’s not for those that said lies about us. I am not going to name them but they know who they are.
“I want to dedicate this victory to the supporters who came to Uruguay to support us, for my players and for the people that work next to me.
“I was sure that my team was going to qualify. I had said to them that I wanted them to show in this match all their value and they did that.
“Regarding other people, I want to say to them to eat their words.
“I have many things to analyse but I am not going to do it reading what the press says because the press lies.
“They have said all the time that I was having problems with (general manager) Carlos Bilardo and that’s not true.
“I don’t usually read the newspapers or listen to sports programmes but my daughters do and they told me what had been said about me. So, I repeat, to all those that said anything against me, keep eating your words.
“I am very proud of my players, they made me feel a real coach because all of what we had planned in dressing room, they did it on the pitch.
“Now we have a lot of time for working calmly and for analysing many things.”
However, asked if was would still be Argentina boss at the World Cup finals, Maradona added: “I don’t know, I have to talk with (Argentine football executive) Julio Grondona and then I will decide.”
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