Bochini: Argentina's coaches aren't helping Messi

Described by journalist Hugo Asch as "a midget, ungainly, imperturbable, without a powerful shot, or header, or charisma," Ricardo Bochini became the great hero of CA Independiente. El Bocha was idolised by Diego Maradona for his skill and imagination on the pitch, despite only playing five minutes plus some stoppage time at the 1986 World Cup.

"Bochini doesn't like interviews," the Guardian's Jonathan Wilson once wrote, detailing the story of how they met in El Bocha's "strangely ordinary flat" in one of Buenos Aires' wealthier neighbourhoods. Wilson thought the player was shy, and couldn't believe the discomfort coming from someone who was beyond instinctive as a player.

But while Bochini may not like interviews, beIN SPORTS added a video to Twitter on Tuesday in which he was uncharacteristically bashful and critical of Lionel Messi's coaches in South America.

In conversation with Jorge Valdano, who was on the pitch when Bochini made his lone appearance at the World Cup, El Bocha declared: "For me, Messi has something that isn't helping him today, which are the coaches in Argentina. I see Messi alone up top, waiting to get the ball, take all the shots for three or four players. He doesn't have anybody to open up the pitch. He doesn't have anybody who puts up a wall."

Bochini's words resulted in an interjection from Valdano, who pointed out how differently Messi plays for Barcelona and for Argentina.

"He's in bad company," Bochini replied. "There's no other reason." El Bocha pointed to Neymar, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Dani Alves, and Jordi Alba as examples of players who support or who have supported Messi at the Camp Nou, and said Argentina would have fewer points in 2018 World Cup qualifying were it not for the diminutive genius.

"I think Argentina, today, is missing a player like (Juan Roman) Riquelme, someone who plays beside Messi that, when Messi is being marked, the other can distribute the play and set the game because Messi can't be the armador and the distributor."

Bochini and Messi were photographed together on Sunday as El Bocha was in Barcelona.