The coach of Leipzig, Julia Nagelsmann, acknowledged in an interview with Marca that in 2018 he was one of the candidates to train the Real Madrid. The technician who will be the rival of Atlético de Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League he explains that there were even conversations about it.
“We had phone calls, but in the end the one who decided was me. I believed that it was still not the right step to go to Real Madrid. I was one of the candidates and the list was not very long. For me, it was very important. I had a good chat with José Ángel Sánchez. We agreed that we could talk again in the future if Real Madrid needed a coach and I was available, ”he says.
The technician adds that “I wanted the next step to be logical. I try to plan a career in soccer, even if it is difficult. I'm a young guy, I don't have to go to the top shelf right away either. I give myself time to develop. Leipzig went to great lengths to sign me. That was the most important thing. Relatively fast I had an offer on the table without having to call myself. We had good conversations and I saw that it was a good next step. A bigger club, with a bigger budget than Hoffenheim, which would allow me to continue developing. They have also given me a free hand to introduce my ideas. I do not have to permanently justify what I do, but I have the possibility to evolve and transfer my ideas to the field of play. It was a good next step in my career to prepare and in the future, maybe go to an even bigger club.
Among the many topics he talks about, Nagelsmann refers, logically, to the tie against Atlético de Madrid. He explains that when he played, he thought “Oh, a very strong team defensively.” We will have to be a very solid block and have a lot of reliability in the front third to create goal danger. Also, we will need a lot of creativity in our first third and to have control. Atlético is a heavyweight in European football. Especially in recent years. Diego Simeone has done a great job with a lot of successes. It is a very large column that we have to drill and that we want to drill ”.
De Simone adds that “he has a very established style of play that he has preached for years, he never departs from it. That is something impressive. Staying in a club for so many years is extraordinary. You have to have a gift to bring people together. As a coach he does everything possible, until he gets the public to cheer. He has a great aura, a lot of charisma. It has the ability to hypnotize people. His way of being is impressive ”.