Simeone reviewed the fundamental lines of his career at Atlético in an interview with ESPN in which, in a series of headlines, he tells how the team has changed since he arrived today. “Winning at Atlético is double enjoyable ”, he asserts, because” a priori those who have to win are others“In other parts of the interview he insists again on those terms that he has already highlighted on other occasions, such as that at Atlético” only talent is useless “and that” Barcelona and Madrid know that they cannot be wrong. ” because they, Atlético, because he, Simeone, is behind. “To be able to sustain itself, it is to go through decades like this that we are doing. Because money alone is not enough. It is based on winning.”
“The difference is not the talent, it is the personality”
“The most important thing that football has is to be champion. Many of the boys who started with us in 2014 marked the way for those who came with us, in the locker room. So that they would understand what our essence is. Our essence is not the style of play, but the way of living the game. So I think that when you get to Atlético's dressing room, it is more difficult for some to adapt, for others less; But when they adapt, they understand that only with talent they don't play here. Because obviously, to be at Atlético they have talent. The difference is not talent, it is personality, security, conviction, commitment, team play. In the past season the team did not lose the essence of the defensive structural work, with another tactical figure, but with other footballers “.
“In 2014 everyone wanted to go and nobody wants to go”
“We have been from 2011 to 2014, the footballers remained and we were champion. Many left, they believed that Atlético's moment was over. They were wrong because that cycle was starting. When you have to win at Atlético, you enjoy twice as much because we play in a tournament in which there are two powerful players and that is something that there is no more in Europe. When it's your turn to win, it's extraordinary. In 2014 they all wanted to go. And today nobody wants to go. Why? Because you work well, there is stability, the club is strong or because you can win ”.
“The player wants to win and doesn't care how”
“A fan knows what Atlético plays. It is very important for the footballer who comes to the club and finds all that information, it is not easy. The player wants to win and does not care how to win. I tell them that there are different ways of win. Plan B, how do I compete when A is not working. What are the ways? Whatever is. The word motivation is not external, you have it and I wake it up or not, but I don't give it to you. They see me in training, wanting to train like the first day I came. The day that I give in, in my state of attitude, is the end. “
“The changing room is round so that they can see each other, so that they can talk …”
“Five or six sit at the round tables, they form closed groupss. We always understood that the square table is a table where you are constantly looking at yourself; and if you don't feel like talking to me, I'll raise my head and have to look at you. It is an obligation without talking, that they look at each other, that they sit down and that they are all together, at a time when you will prepare to compete. The locker room the same, always looking for the aforementioned. We believe in energy a lot. It is something very important, because it is generated, it is generated by everyone. If someone's is negative, it influences, as if it is positive. We try to find in every way how to be generated with positive energy. “
“Barça and Madrid know that they cannot be wrong …”
“In Spain you have a tournament that is the Copa del Rey, in which Madrid and Barcelona are; La Liga, which is Madrid and Barcelona; the Champions, which is Madrid and Barcelona.. What we have done is extraordinary. We are winning in a place where a priori they always have the possibility of winning first. But today, after nine years of work, they know that they cannot be wrong; because if they are wrong, we are here “.
“They label you defensive. They never saw an Atleti game”
“They label you that we play defense and never saw an Atlético de Madrid game. But they say that the team is on the defensive because it is already installed. The player wants to win, he doesn't care how. The player plays for that goal, not just to play well. The good guys want to come, who possibly used to spend less. The good guys chose to go to Madrid or Barcelona. Not to Atlético. Today the good guys also want to come to Atlético. I always say that, at Atlético, when you win, you enjoy twice as much. “