体坛英语新闻：Maradona: "I'm not dying"

BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Football legend Diego Maradona moved to play down fresh concerns about his health on Monday, insisting that he is well and relishing his role as head coach of Argentine club Gimnasia.

Maradona's youngest daughter, Gianinna, raised fears about the 59-year-old by claiming on Instagram that "they are killing him on the inside without him noticing."

The message, which included a call to "pray" for the 1986 World Cup winner, was seemingly a reference to media criticism of Maradona's work with Gimnasia as the club battles to avoid relegation from Argentina's top division.

Maradona, who has had a long-standing public feud with Gianinna as well as his eldest daughter, Dalma, and their mother, Claudia Villafane, responded with his own Instagram post hours later.

"I'm not dying at all," the former Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli star said in a video published on the social media platform.

"I sleep peacefully because I am working. I don't know what Gianinna meant. I know that as one gets older people care more about what you will leave behind than about what you are doing. I am very healthy," added the former No. 10, before vowing to pledge his wealth to charity in his will.

Maradona has been Gimnasia's head coach since September 5, when he replaced Dario Ortiz just give games into the Superliga season. The La Plata-based outfit are currently 23rd in the 24-team standings with two wins and five losses under Maradona's command.

Widely regarded as one of the best footballers ever, Maradona has suffered from a series of health issues since ending his playing career in 1997.

In 2004, he was hospitalized with severe heart and respiratory problems related to a long battle with drug addiction. He has also undergone two gastric bypass operations to control his weight and received treatment for alcohol abuse.

In January, Maradona had surgery to stem bleeding in his stomach and in July he underwent a knee operation.