Dubai: He may have previously given an ultimatum for extra transfer funds back in February, but the tone of Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona's latest outburst on Tuesday night was less threatening and more defeatist.
As if washing his hands of the club before slowly walking out of the back door, Maradona's mood was unusually sullied by unkept promises from the board, fraught by the realisation that sixth in the league in his first season in charge, without silverware, could be as good as it gets.
Using the entirety of the Al Nasr pre-match conference to deliver what seemed to be his swansong, Maradona said: "My work here is not complete. I've only achieved 50 per cent of what I'm capable of because of certain requirements, promises and things asked for at the beginning of the season that didn't happen.
"In the beginning there was an agreement to bring in six players but I only received two. If they [the board] cannot fulfil my needs I will be ready to leave. I cannot compete if I can't get the players I need."
The 1986 World Cup winner, who penned a two-year deal with Al Wasl back in June, added: "If I ever leave Dubai it will not be for any particular reason. I really like it here but I'd also like to clarify I am always on the lookout for a new challenge. I will meet with the chairman [Marwan Bin Bayat] in the coming days to decide if we can continue to work together, to see if they can fulfil my requirements.
Mutual agreement
"If we are unable to meet as far as our thoughts and decisions, I might have to leave the city on a mutual agreement for both parties. I will definitely come back to the UAE but it might only be as a tourist.
"It has nothing to do with other offers. I'm not asking for a raise or a single dollar or another house, I just want to be competitive. If they cannot fulfil requirements as far as players are concerned, I cannot compete and I don't deserve to be coaching. After 31 years in football maybe it's time for me to do something else and spend more time with my family."
Maradona added: "If I can't compete there's no reason to continue and, if they are not able to buy players for lack of budget maybe it's easier if I just leave and they can keep the funds [from my salary] to use on something they require.
"I didn't come here just for an easy time on the beach waiting for the bank to call to tell me my salary has been deposited. I came here to work hard and be competitive — to be competitive is what I live for."
Maradona added: "If I leave I will be very sad, but I didn't get the support I should have done."
Just last week the club dismissed talk of Maradona courting other employers, such as the Bahrain national team, with the line that he intended to stay at Al Wasl for life, but with a year — let alone a week — being a long time in the life of El Diego, things are — as always — subject to change.
