Gabi announced last weekend that he was hanging up his boots at 37, after 17 of professionalism. In June, he ended his relationship with Qatari Al Sadd, after arriving at the entity trained by Xavi Hernández in 2018 after seven consecutive seasons in the club of his loves, Atlético de Madrid.
Now he watches football from the auger and in 'El Larguero' by SER he analyzed the season of Simeone's men and his future, and if there are no surprises, as a coach.
Now what?: “Enjoy my people, but the bug is already biting me and I only retired one day (laughs). I want to prepare well for the future and want to continue linked to the world of football.
Thought withdrawal: “I have had offers from Spain to continue playing, even from abroad but I knew that when I was going to Qatar I was going for my last two years, I wanted to retire well.”
Work with Simeone ?: “In this life nothing is ruled out, but I have to prepare. To get to a position for what I have been is not the best way.”
On the Cholo team: “Always working alongside a coach like him is very positive. And alongside Xavi? They have both very well chosen their work group, neither of them will call me.”
“If Cholo calls me? I don't know, I like leading groups”
Atlético offensive: “He has things very clear, due to the characteristics of the players he has to adapt. He has the best First team but not the best eleven.”
Favourite: “Depending on how the other two are (Real Madrid and Barcelona), if they are not at all well, they have the possibility of opting for all the titles.”
More possession: “Simeone has seen the qualities of the players, João Félix falling to the left and being in contact with the ball has more possibilities. Now he dominates the games more.”
Carrasco looks like another: “He is more involved and before it was more difficult to defend.”
Is this Atlético or yours?: “For the moment for mine because we have shown it. Be careful that the squad with whom we won the Copa del Rey at Bernebéu … We were the best group at that time, not the best squad. We knew how to get the games out.”
The current Gabi on this team ?: “Koke tried to do it a little bit. The comparisons are odious. There is no one with such defensive characteristics, of that cut. Maybe Torreira.”
Arrival of Luis Suárez: “It reminded me of Villa's, if we win the league, Messi ends up at Atlético next year (laughs). Only the hierarchy, the respect with which the centrals look at him. Luis, just by having him on the field at Atleti already the voucher “.
“Xavi is ready for Barça. We will see him here in a short time”
João Félix: “More mature, he decides better and does not run as much. More involved in what Atlético is. Suárez fixes the center-backs and João has more freedom between the lines and that hierarchy of Luis Suárez relieves him of responsibilities.”
Cholo's team attacks more: “It evolves with the players it has, with more variations. It has been adapting to the players that have been arriving and it is getting the most out of all of them. Putting the players it has now to defend would be crazy.”
How about Xavi ?: “I highlight his intelligence to watch football. He is thinking about football 24 hours. At home he is watching games all the time.”
Prepared for Barça: “Yes, in these two years he has prepared for it. With a great work group, very human. In a short time we will see him here.”
What did you lack in your career ?: “Winning the mythical Orejona, for all Atlético. Even if it was only to catch it and then throw it away (laughs). And then, the issue of the National Team but I understand the generation that was ahead, the best in history. I would have missed one call or internal acknowledgment “.
Saragossa: “Well I had the chance last year to come back but it would have been a mistake. At Atleti, when El Mono left, there were no calls.”
“Koke is becoming the club's biggest legend”
Koke: “I have tried to help him whenever I could. He was very gifted from a very early age and he is becoming the biggest legend of the club, both as a player and captain.”
If Cholo calls you ?: “Right now I do not know, I know that I am qualified. I like to lead groups. I would like to be first coach but I do not know if I have to pass before being second, I would.”
League Champion Options: “I see him with a good chance of winning the league, because of the confidence they are in.”
Qatar 2022: “It will be the best World Cup in history in terms of technology and stadiums, but in atmosphere … it will be another story.”