Diego Maradona's daughter Dalma Nerea said Sunday that the former Argentina captain's health was improving and blasted the "lies" being told about her father, including a report that he was having a heart transplant.
"He's much, much better than the day he went in (April 18)," she told Argentine television in an interview broadcast on Sunday evening.
"I'm relieved and happy because they've taken him off the artificial respirator and although it's a slow process, we can say he's getting better," added the older of Maradona's two teenage daughters.
The 43-year-old soccer great has been in the intensive care unit of the Suizo-Argentina clinic for one week after being admitted with a swollen heart and breathing problems. Doctors said he also has pneumonia.
The hospital said on Sunday that the former Argentina captain had been taken off an artificial respirator although the outlook was still cautious.
"On the day he was taken in, they wouldn't let us see him and on the Monday (the next day), he had tubes everything," she said.
"Now, he's less bloated."
She added: "He has a separate God and, for this reason, there's no doubt he'll get better."
"Obviously he's very strong."
The 17-year-old then hit out at the rumours which have circulated in the media since Maradona has been in hospital.
She said these included reports that he could need a heart transplant and that a hospital employee had taken photographs of Maradona using a mobile telephone.
"They've treated him without respect, taking advantage of the fact that my dad can't answer back because he's under sedation.
"I just want them to have a little respect, nothing more."
"You can understand the media interest but not the seriousness of the lies," she said.
"The one about the photos is a lie and also when they said he was going to have a heart transplant."
"All of a sudden, everybody is my father's doctor," she added.
"But nobody knows what's being going on in there (the hospital)."
