Diego Simeone has spoken warmly about Benfica’s collection of former Atletico Madrid players as they return to Vicente Calderon.
Raul Jimenez this summer left Madrid for Lisbon and joined Eduardo Salvio, Pizzi and Silvio, the latter technically on loan from Atletico, in facing his former team on Wednesday night.
“We respect Jimenez. He left as an example of professionalism despite not getting a lot of minutes,” Simeone said, AS reports.
“Silvio, Pizzi, they were with us too and we want to greet them and wish them the best for the year ahead.
“Salvio might not play and we’re not happy about his injury at all. He was with us too. I wish him well, he’s a strong guy.
“Nico Gaitan is a reference for this team. He has goals, assists, he’s good in one-on-ones. We’ll have to be attentive to his attacking game.
“It will be a tough match against a team used to winning. They won the League and are set up to use speed down the flanks, with [Goncalo Guedes], with Gaitan as the reference for the team.
“They have goals, they’re good on the counter, I like the right-back, Nelson…they’re a competitive team.
“The game will require great strength, the ability to quickly take advantage of how we want to play and to create chances that correspond to the match.”
Simeone was asked about comments from Salvio that he was a great, demanding Coach, the reporter pushing for an explanation for what the trainer wants from his players.
A claim by Tiago Mendes that Simeone is the best Coach he’s played under was also raised, Simeone responding in kind.
“I want solutions to problems to win games,” he stressed.
“Tiago is one of the best midfielders I’ve had. I admire him a lot, we love each other, perhaps because he spoke well of me. It’s a little exaggerated.”
