Vrsaljko: “I am very motivated to play and contribute to Atlético”

Sime Vrsaljko has had a complicated course at Atlético. The right-handed lane started the season injured after breaking the cruciate ligament in his left knee during his year on loan at Inter Milan. He did the rehabilitation with the rojiblancos medical services and in November he was already available for Simeone, although did not debut until January, against Leganés on matchday 21.

He played several games (in total seven, adding 482 ', in which he gave an assist), but the stoppage came due to the coronavirus and in May he decided to go through the operating room to remove surgical material from the operated knee. The goal was to be available for the return of the domestic championship, but lhe recovery lengthened and set his sights on the Final Eight of the Champions League in Lisbon. Everything was going well until a PCR test prior to traveling to the Portuguese capital tested positive for coronavirus and he had to confine himself to his house, ending the season.

However, Vrsaljko is already ready to play (it already tested negative in the subsequent tests) and the Croatian coach, Zlatko Dalic, has summoned you after two years of absence for the first two Nations League matches against Portugal (on the 5th at 8:45 p.m. in Porto) and France (on the 8th at 8:45 p.m. in Paris). Although the coach has assured that they will not take risks with the player, sure that the mattress side will have a chance to play. During the concentration with his team has spoken with the middle of his country ‘Sportske Novosti’ on various topics related to Atlético.

First, he commented on his sensations, ensuring that “I am really satisfied, I am happy to be back in the national team after a long absence. It's a special feeling to always be in the national team, especially for me after such a long hiatus. However, he also recognized that not yet in full condition: “I trained in Zadar while on vacation, but after three trainings only with teammates i can't say i'm ready. I'll be available to the coach and the team, but I'm still far from optimal in which I can do my best”.

He also spoke about what you expect from this season at the rojiblanco club after leaving injuries behind: “I want to return to the field as soon as possible, given my situation I am very motivated to return and show what I know and can do. When I am healthy and prepared I can contribute a lot to the team, but also to my career ”.

Regarding your technician, Simeone, I affirm that “He is a coach who makes the most of each player, that is why he wants the team to look good and always play the best at all times, thus creating a competitive team that can do great things every year ”. For this reason, he believes that all this “makes him a great coach, as he has shown many times after all. Simeone He is an insatiable man who cultivates a great love for football, it shows in training, in games, that makes him special and one of the most important, of the best coaches in the world”.

Nor did he leave aside the issue that most worries everyone, the coronavirus, and explains how he lived it: “The information itself was stressful because, after the first crisis in which we were confined for three months, I was safely tested fifteen times and the test was always negative. In that sense, I found it very strange that the test was positive in the end, but the most important thing for me was not endanger anyone and have no symptoms that could endanger my health. I trained at home, I was at home for a few days and that's it, I do not mean that the virus is not serious and should not be protected, but I was positive for that, he used the time for himself. I already had the negative after three days, but I had to give two negative tests in 72 hours ”.

To conclude, he gave his opinion on the new mattress addition, the meta Grbic, compatriot of his and who is also in the concentration of Croatia. “When Atlético signs a player, then they are interested in the family he comes from, the person he is also. What they see on the field is just one part of the mosaic they want to put together when it comes to bringing in players. Of course, Ivo has a great future ahead of him. He is looking forward to arriving at the club to work and adapt as soon as possible to the demands of the coach and the team. We found out when you signed, you know that I am at your service whatever you need. You can count on me 24 hours a day, you have us close by, you will not be bored”.