Cesar Luis Menotti says Barcelona boss Tata Martino brings ‘prestige’ to the profession of professional football Coach.
The 74-year-old was in charge at Barca for just over a year between 1983 and 1984, during which time he won the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana and the now defunct Copa de La Liga, and told the club’s official website of the respect he has for his fellow Argentine.
“Tata is a serious person and does not suffer from stupid vanities. He has known how to bring prestige to our profession, having tried and managed to work on his idea of playing despite the crisis in Argentine football.
“It is a difficult situation for him. All he can do is sustain the idea of the way Barcelona play. What can you put on the Mona Lisa? A moustache?” asked Menotti, who had a message for people who say there is only one way Martino’s team can play.
“It’s very stupid to speak of Barca as easy to predict. There can always be innovation within the predictable.
“If you have Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, who are all small players, and you try to play another way then that would be crazy.
“It seems silly that you can question a team that has just amassed 100 points in La Liga.”
Menotti says he does not know Martino personally but is pleased the Catalans opted for him to replace Tito Vilanova.
“I’m not a friend of his nor do we have a working relationship. We have spoken, when I was in charge at Independiente and him with Paraguay, but I’m delighted he has got the Barcelona job,” he concluded.
