•You recently renewed, in December you will be ten years at Atlético, and you will be in charge of the team until 2024. I don’t know if that is a miracle, a feat or how it can be qualified …
🗣“I do not stop to think about the years and what we did or in what we have been doing. The worst thing that can happen to me is to stay and watch what happened. I am in the place where I want to be, I am very happy at Atlético, the club seeks to grow, I am excited about the team and last season, having won the league certifies and solidifies all the hard work we have put in over the years”
•Where do you get the motivation to continue leading Atlético with which you have already won many titles?
🗣”For me the motivation is daily, as it is to improve ourselves as coaches. Winning a title is what we all seek, but what really makes us happy is seeing players who grow, can be identified with something, who end up feeling as part of the club. This is not easy. The legacy left to us by the most important ones that I recall, are the first ones we had, Juanfran, Filipe Luis, Tiago, Gabi, Godín, Raúl Garcia, Miranda … who pushed you in the best way to definitely install what the others should continue to be”.
•Eight titles, you are the one that has won the most trophies in the history of Atlético, which is the one that made you most excited?
🗣The other day I was talking about it with the boys … We started the preseason with five or six professionals and I told them: ‘Many of those who participate are going to represent Atlético in the first four friendly matches. And when Atlético play, Atletico plays, it doesn’t matter who plays and you have to represent he club in the best way. ‘ We are excited about the fact that these guys can be important in the history of Atlético at some point. That creates a dream for us. What was the most important title? I have no doubt: the one at the Bernabéu. We had not beaten them (Real Madrid) for 14 years, there are many, it is a very important weight in the history of the clubs. There was talk of playing on a neutral field, which would generate the conditions that were requested. The Calderón seemed small and they invited us to play at their home ground, where the cast of fans was not the same. There were more of them than of us and we generated something that began in the footballers, the realization that nationally we could begin to win. Quique Sánchez Flores had already started to win in Europe and that beautiful decade of the club began. The team played a difficult game and it meant seeing that we could continue to grow and win at the national level.
•I ask him for proper names. What can De Paul contribute
🗣”I’m a Racing fan, I saw him when he debuted, when he played in another position, left wing, left midfielder, in the position from when he arrived at Valencia. In Italy he had enormous growth, tactically he grew a lot, he played on the inside and had a better relationship with the ball. He has a good passing range. In midfield only Herrera and Koke, with Lemar, can generate play and we need a player so as to have internal competition that gives us options, like De Paul will give us”.
•Vitolo left and Marcos Paulo arrived.
🗣”Marcos is a club signing. We will watch him in the preseason to see how it evolves. He has not played since February, which is important to note. You see how good he is, but talent alone is not enough her. We need personality, belonging and hopefully he can show what the sporting part of the club saw him. As a result of what we see, so shall we”.
•From some who have come to another who could come as Griezmann …
🗣” My family is close with their daughter and we see each other from time to time. Beyond everything he gave to Atletico, I want him to do well in Barcelona, he is an extraordinary player. At Barcelona, despite having seasons without being regular, he never falls below 20 goals mark. They are important numbers and I hope I can consolidate the player who has been in the Eurocup, in the World Cup, in the five years with us … I do not expect anything other than that he triumphs at Barcelona.”
•Have you been eager for him to come to Atletico?
🗣”We know each other, we talk with the club, there are positions to improve in the team, we need a forward. Another will come if Griezmann does not come. There the club will decide the best for the economy of the entity.”
•What do you expect from João Félix?
🗣”We are all waiting for the regularity of João Félix. It is very unfair to wait for João Félix. He showed flashes of what he can do in his first 2 season at the club. I have no doubt that from August to December he had a very very good season, he had good levels of goals, assists, team play, he is intelligent, he knows what the team needs and what he has to do. Then he became injured, and for a player like him it was difficult to maintain that level with an injury, as he dribbles when playing, contact with the opponent. He was brave, mind you that he had to undergo an operation. Hopefully I can maintain the regularity that he requires”.
•From what has been said,no one will leave.
🗣”The club is very clear about what it does. In 2014, Courtois, Filipe, Villa, Diego Costa, Sosa, Diego Ribas left … there was a replacement of almost ten players. Today the club has the strength to support the players, that is wonderful, and that the fewest possible leave and those who want a change of environment, because some need to change that in order to continue being at their best.”
•Saúl is one of those who seems to need that …
🗣”Last season he spoke with the club, with us about his needs and he spoke about the option of having a role on the team where he feels more important. And I consider that Saúl became Saúl by playing everywhere. He or many of those around him see it as something negative. He is very important for Atlético because he can play as a eft back, ring winger, midfielder, in a double pivot… His versatility gives us a lot of options . Without having a season at his best, we count on him. He is a player who in that version and playing what the coach needs, performs very well”.
•The exit door is open and you can also stay.
🗣”I have spoken with him and we cannot put aside what is rumored and talked about. If he stay, to work as he has always done and if he wants to leave, the door will be open in the best way. We have been together for eight years, I think we gave him everything, we had as a coach and him as a footballer. If he stays, to work providing competition for the others in midfield, then great but if he has to go out, then a big hug, and I wish him the best and we continue being friends, as always. Either at Barcelona or elsewhere”.
•What do you expect from Suárez this season?
🗣”We already spoke with Luis in 2014 and he chose Barcelona. When they called me last summer to ask me about the option of having him and what I thought, I told them what the team needs to win. When we had players who scored 20+ goals, Griezmann, Costa, Suárez, the team was close to winning or winning. That role is very difficult. There are few footballers who can score. more than that number of goals. To be a champion you have to score goals. Goals are not for everyone. And we do not doubt it. When I spoke with him I met a guy who needed to prove himself, show that he wasn’t finished and we were going to help him along the line of his entire life.”.
•It has been a difficult summer for him and he will join the team later than the others, this might affect his performance.
🗣”Those who score goals always score goals. Surely you are going to find Suárez with 45 or 50 years old with his friends and surely you are going to see Suárez’s team win 2–1 or 3–1 with two goals from him because it is not a matter of age. Instincts, understanding the game, he has it all. Age is not a problem, it is hunger and the need to stay effective. Suárez will seek to continue like this”.
•Those he need another tip
“You have to talk to the club and everything will go accordingly with the best you can bring. We speak of various names. They work on finding a striker to compensate for the internal competition that is necessary”.
•How is the matter of the goal and the possibility of Grbic going out on loan?
🗣”He has the need to play and in this situation, if there is something we can do, we will. He is not in a hurry. He is a young boy, who can stay and if there is something that can satisfy both parties, it could happen”.
•About the academy players training under him this pre season
🗣”This preseason is being more for the boys and we are looking for someone to join the first team. We told them that some of them can stay if they are prepared for it. In the physical and tactical part there is hope, but what counts is what they do on the field and it will speak for itself”.
•He has a double facet with Giuliano as coach and father … How do you deal with it?
🗣”In a natural way. His growth comes from the junior categories, from youth to Atleti B and that was not managed by me. The growth speaks to what the coaches worked with him. We have decided that he should join us, he is still small (footballing and age wise), but he has important things to improve and demonstrate. Time will tell if he stays with us or stays at B or wherever the club decides”.
•You still have the same passion as in the beginning.
🗣”Since the possibility of coaching Atlético appeared, which I always wanted and prepared for it, I came with the desire to make the club grow and to give back to the club what it gave to me as a footballer. Sometimes I review my first press conference, I listen to myself to see the basics of the beginning and talk about the essence of what we wanted: to be a brave, counter-punishing, annoying team, which generates excitement among its fans and that does not happen in many places. Today people know how Atlético plays. You may like it more or less, but the team plays something and when a team plays something it has to be respected”.
•You have changed the way of playing.
🗣”In the beginning we played a 4–4–2 with suffocating pressure, with people who worked more to recover the ball, with players like Juanfran and Filipe who were extreme … We have improved the coaching staff and enhanced the way in which we train, and from that improvement that we found Hermoso, Trippier, the continuity of Carrasco emerged… With Hermoso we looked for something that we already had with Lucas, when he (Lucas) played as center back and left back. The presence of Hermoso allows us to play out from the back and also defend the flanks, Carrasco allows us to play at the higher degree and at the same time be a winger … That generates different variations for us”.
•They are used to playing more with the ball
🗣”Trippier, being a right back, has a very high vision of the game for his position. It is not easy to find a right back like that. Savic grew a lot in his personality and in his game and appreciation for Koke. He plays in the middle because having 3 center-backs, we can have a more offensive midfield in that department of the buildup, Lemar was able to develop the best way on the left flank and the team was able to execute something that improved progressively, and waiting for the potential of players like Llorente, Suarez, Correa, Joao. …”
•From what you have seen, will you continue with that system?
🗣”We have found. that for the boys’ (academy players) games we will play 4–4–2 and when the older ones (first team players) come we will vary. Having Hermoso, Carrasco, Lemar, who were among the ones who played the most last season changes things. In the same game we can play 4–3–3, 5–4–1 or 5–3–2. Depending on the match proposed by the rival as occasionally these players are open to play in different roles.”
•It looks like it can be a special season for the group and also for individuals: you can win your third league as a coach, something that no one has done; Koke can catch up with Adelardo and Oblak get his sixth Zamora Trophy.
🗣”The challenges are daily and we are going game by game. I think it is still our strength and our balance. Wanting to be the best in history, the best goalkeeper, the one with the most games. Thinking about that is the beginning of regression. That will happen because it has to happen and it has to be natural and is lived with day to day. And for this you have to give everything. My strength and energy is based on that. When I leave the club there will be time to remember this decade that has been wonderful”.
•The last decade has been one of the best decades in the club’s history and you can be proud.
🗣”When we won the League in Valladolid, the first thing that came to mind was the legacy that those I named above had left, because without them we would not have come to this. If in this last championship triumph you could not value everything we have been doing, then you are the first who, if that triumph did not appear, would talk about ‘El Pupas’ (the jinxed one) the memory of ‘El Pupas’ that I was lucky enough not to know and would have changed all the impression that now counts. If we had lost, they would talk about how to get ‘El Pupas’ out. Boys of twelve, fourteen years do not understand what they are talking about when talking about that topic”
•That ambition for victories is what he has transmitted to the younger boys.
🗣”When I won the ‘doublet’ (double — league & cup) as a footballer, we won the title 19 years after the last one. So I asked to win a League as a coach. When we won the 2014 one, 18 years had passed since the ‘doublet’. When I won the League as a coach they asked me how I felt and I said that they could not wait for so many years to win another League again. Seven years have passed. Hopefully they don’t have to spend another seven years to win it again ”.
•Madrid has not strengthen that much, Barcelona has financial problems and many see a winning cycle for Atlético.
🗣”Last year we talked about a Real Madrid that had a bad or not so good season and the lost the same number of games as us. We won one more game. The difference was in a single match. I understand that Real Madrid and Barcelona know that today they cannot make many mistakes. As we show Sevilla, Real Sociedad or Villarreal, that the championship can be fought because the growth of these teams is evident. Real Madrid, Barcelona, United, Bayern, Juventus, forever, will always come out as the best teams in the world”.
•After a year and a half the fans will be able to return to the Wanda Metropolitano.
🗣”We need it. Football is a spectacle and footballers at some point are actors. And in the action before the pressure that exists in front of the people, the footballer expresses things on the playing field. And we need it. It is something that amuses people. Release your problems in life, go to the stadium with friends, with family, with children … that is priceless. It is something popular, very popular, you don’t see this amount of people who go to watch football in other sports and all of us who are from football need them to come to the field”.
•I don’t know if you want to highlight something else, like Correa’s great year …
🗣”He managed to have stability, he played all the league games, that speaks highly of him and Koke’s growth as captain. It had a very large growth in his maturity. Oblak’s strong step in the dressing room. He is no longer just a great goalkeeper, the best in the world, he speaks little, but is listened to. Savic’s growth in the dressing room, Suárez’s way of inserting himself into the team, Llorente’s explosion for being continuous, for not slowing down, beyond being out of the squad for some games, hi performance did not drop. Believing that he could do it well. He has no ceiling. I am convinced that Llorente has no ceiling”.
•The last question. Messi seems that he will continue at Barcelona …
🗣”The best thing that can happen to those of us in LaLiga is not to lose the best. Cristiano Ronaldo has already been lost and I hope that Spanish society, Spanish football can enjoy Messi in this country. For that, Barcelona will have to make a significant effort and handle in the best way, that is what it (Barca) has to handle as an institution to compensate for what it takes to have Messi”.
