MADRID, 15 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Atlético de Madrid, the Argentine Diego Pablo Simeone, stressed this Friday that his compatriot Lionel Messi is “the best player in the world” after becoming world champion with Argentina in the tournament held in Qatar at the end of last year, for so he asked himself “what else does he have to gain” to confirm it.
“The best player in the world right now is Messi, he became world champion, what more does he have to win to continue being the best in the world?” declared the Argentine in the press conference prior to the match against Valencia.
Their rival on Saturday is going through a period of change, with a coach who “has done very well in a very complicated time” and who works with many young people who have a “future and present.” “We are going to find an opponent with enthusiasm, with enthusiasm, because in their field they are a very complicated team and we will try to take the game where we believe we can hurt them,” he said.
Regarding the squad, he highlighted that he is happy with having two players per position, waiting for Reinildo, who will return “shortly” after his knee injury. “We have a competitive squad with many kids and loanees who have returned to improve, and that makes me excited,” he explained.
The Argentine valued the departure of Yannick Carrasco, a player to whom he is “grateful”, because he always gave himself “in the best way” and was there for what the team “needed”. “I had the need to go out and it has to be like that, we will meet there in Riyadh to have a coffee and give each other a hug, because I love him and he is a boy who gave us a lot,” he argued.
In order to replace the Belgian, he has the solution “thought out”, because he saw his departure coming “since last season” and worked “accordingly”. “Lino came, Riquelme came and if we need something in the winter market, we will evaluate it, but I see things that I like and I am excited,” he said.
Among the options to play as a winger are Samuel Lino, Javi Galán and Rodrigo Riquelme, whom he even tried on the right in the last training session. “He has done very well, he has defended very well and has things to improve, that is what coaches are for,” he remarked.
The Argentine expects a “tough game” in which he will need the fans, as in the game against Granada, since the people who follow them are “the strength of the team.” “Hopefully the people who are with us are supporting the team and there are a lot of people in the stadium,” he hoped.