MADRID, 4 Apr. (SportsFinding) –
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described the style debate between him and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Pablo Simeone as “stupid,” before noting that the ‘rojiblancos’ “have the great ability to deny you who you are”. while he made it clear that he has not “invented” football nor is he a “visionary”.
“I will not dedicate a second to the debate about my style and Simeone’s, it is a stupid debate. In a game there are many things, basically based on the quality of the players,” Guardiola stressed at the press conference prior to this match. Tuesday (9:00 pm) against the rojiblancos in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
The Catalan coach insisted that there is a “wrong idea” of how Atlético plays. “They are more offensive than people think. I won’t talk about their quality, how competitive they are. It all depends on who has the ball, the match situation…” he explained.
“THE PLAN IS IMPORTANT, BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO GIVE THEM A CENTIMETER”
“Atletico don’t lock themselves in, you can lock them in, but at first you don’t lock them in. They come looking for you, but if you sink them and you succeed, they get behind you. They can run, they have legs, but if they can, they’re going to squeeze you , and they have been doing it since time immemorial,” he added.
Guardiola pointed out that the Madrid team does not take risks in defense or midfield, with quality players in attack. “They are the champions of LaLiga, the championship that has taken the most teams to the Champions League final in the last decade. They have fought against Real Madrid and Barcelona for the title. I sense the atmosphere that will be in the Wanda. They play depending of the moments. We must be prepared, anything can happen,” he said.
“In the Champions League there are always new ideas and tactics and tomorrow we will see one. My job would be boring if I always did the same thing. I can’t play the same against Liverpool and Atlético. Each player belongs to his father and mother. Tonight I will look for inspiration and I will look for a new tactic for tomorrow”, he pointed out about his plan for the tie.
“I DIDN’T INVENTE FOOTBALL, BUT I AM A VERY GOOD COACH”
Thus, he stressed that they will play “to win, with a high rhythm.” “I’ve learned that the plan is important, but you don’t have to give them an inch. The players are the ones who have to win or lose the game, hopefully tomorrow we can play a good game. We’ll try to travel to Madrid with the best possible result” , analyzed.
“I didn’t invent football. What we do was already done by prehistoric people. I wish it were so important, but I am a very good coach. I try to adapt to the players, I want to see myself reflected in my teams, but I’m going to win. No I am a visionary when I win and when I lose they say ‘who does that guy think he is’. I don’t win the games, the game belongs to the players,” he said about his role in football.
Finally, Guardiola acknowledged having “learned a lot” from Atlético de Madrid. “We have to adapt as best as possible. They have the great ability to deny you what you are, that is a merit, they generate an added difficulty,” he concluded.