MADRID, 9 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Belgian footballer Axel Witsel has admitted that “thanks to the ‘Cholo’ idea” of putting him as a center back at Atlético de Madrid, he can “extend” his “quality” at the highest level, with appointments such as the quarterfinals in the Champions League, against a Borussia Dortmund where the danger of Karim Adeyemi and Jadon Sancho has stood out.
“When I arrived at Atlético, I started playing in this position and this year I feel more comfortable in it. For a player, it doesn’t matter what position you play in, you always want to play. Thanks to the ‘Cholo’ idea, I can extend my quality to this level,” said Witsel, at a press conference, about having become a key center back for Simeone.
The harmony of the Belgian player with the Argentine coach is palpable when facing this first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. “We think like ‘Cholo’, game by game. This is the most important thing, we cannot think any further, the most important is tomorrow. Later we will have time to think about other games,” commented Witsel.
In addition, he remembered his time in the ranks of the German team. “It is a very good team, I played there four years that were very good for me. It is a team that presses a lot, that has very fast players in front, such as Adeyemi and Sancho; or Emre Can in the midfield, who organizes the game and is a player who can make a difference at any moment,” he warned in this regard.
On the other hand, he identified the defensive problems that this season have hindered Atlético from fighting for other titles. “It is an issue that we have to improve, we all know it, but it is a collective issue. If tomorrow we can not suffer, it will be better, but we know that we have to be better with respect to this point,” the Belgian insisted.
Finally, he did not want to underestimate his opponent in these quarters. “When Borussia played, it’s not that we were happier than if City or another team played. In the Champions League, and in football in general, there is no easy game,” Witsel concluded.