Maradona: We're giving everything to keep Gimnasia in top flight

Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata boss Diego Maradona said Thursday that he and his players are "giving everything" to help the club avoid relegation to Argentina's second division.

The 1986 World Cup winner began his tenure as head coach of Gimnasia with a 2-1 home defeat to defending Superliga champions Racing Club on Sunday. The result left the club rooted to the bottom of the 24-team standings.

"We are giving everything we have," Maradona said in a video posted on Gimnasia's Twitter account. "The boys need to train and get used to winning. I am not a magician but I have 40-something years of football experience and I know what it means to be a 'tripero' [Gimnasia fan]."

Maradona was appointed Gimnasia manager on September 5 after agreeing to a contract that runs until the end of the current Superliga season in May.

Gimnasia have won just one and lost five of their first six matches this campaign. Darío Ortiz quit as manager after the team's 1-0 loss to Argentinos Juniors on August 31.

Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballer in history, ended an 11-month spell as head coach of Mexican second division side Dorados in June.

- XINHUA