Marcelo Bielsa has paid a heartfelt tribute to his countryman Diego Maradona, who died aged 60 on Wednesday.
"He couldn't be better," said the Leeds United' head coach, speaking to the media ahead of his side's trip to Everton this weekend.
"He was for us and will continue to be an idol. Given the fact that he's not here with us anymore, it gives us great sadness. For having lost an idol for us, it's something that makes us feel weak.
"Maradona was an artist. The dimension of the repercussion of his art has infinite recognition. To give one example which stands out, the songs that have been written about him are extraordinary. And I've read ten texts after his death that have been emotional and there's a recognition of what he gave to the spectators in beauty.
"In terms of what he signifies to us in particular, Diego made us feel the fantasy that an idol makes you feel. The myth that is that person that makes us belief that what he does, we are all capable of doing it.
"That's why the loss of an idol always hurts the people who are excluded the most. They are the ones who most need someone to show that they can triumph.
Although Bielsa and Maradona's paths never crossed professionally, with Bielsa taking charge of the Argentina national team following Maradona's retirement and the player's spell at Newell's Old Boys coming after the coach had left the club, Bielsa was in charge for Maradona's testimonial in November 2001.
"In that game what really stood out was his relationship with the public but everything he did as a footballer was a beauty which cannot be matched," Bielsa added.
Maradona's death was announced on Wednesday afternoon after the 60-year-old suffered a heart attack in his Buenos Aires home. Earlier this month he underwent successful surgery for a blood clot on the brain.
The country of Argentina have entered three days of national mourning for the man who skippered their 1986 World Cup win.
