Argentina legend and current Fujairah boss Diego Maradona has hit out at critics in an emotional Facebook post, saying that he is totally committed to his managerial work in the UAE.

The 1986 World Cup winner, who is a Dubai resident, has guided the ambitious Emirate to joint-top of the UAE First Division League table since taking over last summer – but felt the need to put doubters in their place.

After a 1-0 victory at Masafi on Friday, the cult hero – who makes the trip from Dubai to the east coast Emirate on an almost daily basis – spoke of his dedication to the club and also put to bed rumours about alleged drug abuse.

“I have to journey a total of 300 kilometres every bloody day to train my team, from Dubai to Fujairah,” the 56-year-old said via social media.

“It’s ME who wants to tell you all of this so nobody can tell you I do not work or that I’m still on drugs. I have not consumed any for 14 years, thank God. And I’m not giving in… But, as I always say, they will spin it how they want.

“I’m sending a big hug to all!”

Maradona, who returned to club management after a five-year hiatus following on from his sacking at Al Wasl in 2012, also commented on how he has managed to turn the fortunes around of his current employers.

He said: “The team is getting established more and more, thanks to the talks we make with my technical staff. We are Maradona, Enrique and Islas, a core of technicians who want to pull this off, and we are doing it with all our hearts.

“In our last practice, my players understood that the rivals are going to give us a fight, because we are the team to beat.

“And the truth is today they played a great game. The defence were great. Al-Hafiti “Marscherano” very well in the midfield, with Mansouri and Bravo, on the right. And the forwards Kossoko (for me he would have to be playing in the French league) and Khalfan, who can strike at any moment.”