“No one takes a footballer away to lose,” the Atlético coach replied to the criticism of the ‘bullying’ of the Portuguese from Portugal
After learning that Joao Félix wants to leave Atlético sooner rather than later because he can’t stand his current situation as a substitute at Cholo Simeone and that he has even undergone psychological treatment, there was the expectation that the impressions of the Argentinian coach would be this one. Friday, in the previous of the league match against Athletic.
As expected, the mattress coach adhered to strict sporting matters and insisted that when the Portuguese was healthy, he was a starter. He assured him that he treats him like someone else, just like Correa, Morata, Cunha or Griezmann, and that no coach thinks about taking a footballer away to lose because he just wants to win.
Simeone was prepared for the barrage of questions about El Menino. When questioned in the first place about the possible departure of the Portuguese and his situation, the coach explained: “I will be very clear in the same way I explained it to Joao. I want to win with Correa, with Joao, with Griezmann, with Cunha, with Morata… The only reality is what it is,” he said.
Usually sparing in explanation, this time he continued: “In the League year he was incredible until he got injured and Correa ended up playing because he had a great finish. In the second season, in the ‘League of 14’, he hadn’t played, but he started against Osasuna, he did very well, he reacted with goals, gave everything for the team, what he has, and played until he was injured. . The following year he had a good pre-season, apart from his injury, with good games against Juventus and after his good performances he played. And now, when he went down, other teammates are playing. Because I think Joao is the same as Correa and the others. As soon as he is fit again in training, work, goal back, we need him, he will play. But now that I’m here it’s about performance, that’s why other teammates are playing. Obviously he played every time he was good.
As for the behavior of Joao Félix, who threw the bib on the bench by not playing against Bruges, Simeone tried to downplay them and blame the messenger. “It’s normal. Yesterday he made the gesture of silence and played with Carrasco and De Paul to see who scored the goal, but since then his focus has been on him, whatever you who are with the magnifying glass are thinking as a result of what you believe. I say everything I have to say to the players in the locker room, not here.”
In Portugal there was even talk of ‘bullying’. “The team is very good and the reality is different, the playing field. And there is a coach who chooses the best one based on what he sees. You think I’m not risking Joao? No coach does it’, he concluded.
What did Joao say in their conversation?’ Cholo insisted. “I love it because they draw attention. We can talk for four hours. He is a fantastic boy, he gets along well with all his teammates, we are only talking about group performance, that’s all,” he emphasized.
Cholo emphasized his argument that he takes his blame for not getting the best out of the Portuguese yet. “Yes, I’m learning more and it’s an issue I have to resolve with myself, demand more of myself to get the most out of Joao until the day he gets here.”
Taking turns without a goal, with only five goals after 86 shots, Simeone was left with the positive: «The good thing is to have goal situations, which the team seeks, generates and goes after winning the match. The power goes for mood, composure, confidence and the only way to achieve the goal is to create opportunities.
Ironically, he set the example of his eternal rival by asking him if he doesn’t have a defined elf. “If another coach like Real Madrid changes, it’s because he rotates, because you have to give breaks and here comes the criticism. We only look for what we understand we need.
Just a question about Athletic, the corresponding rival and whom he praised: “I like the way he plays. Valverde has found his line of play in Bilbao as he played in Barcelona, with fast people, transitions. I like how he plays, how he pushes and how he works and I don’t expect anything but an important game.”
Source: La Verdad
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