Cholo: ‘The secret? Great players’

Diego Simeone says the ‘secret’ to his Atletico Madrid success is ‘to have great players’ as ‘it’s the quickest way to win.’

Simeone was speaking ahead of Atletico’s Champions League Round of 16 trip to PSV Eindhoven, and was asked how he has manoeuvred the team into regulars in the tournament’s latter stages and regular Primera title challengers.

“The secret is having great players. The quickest way to win is to have great players,” he replied, AS reports, before confirming the return of Augusto Fernandez.

“He’s working well, he trained on Friday, Saturday, Sunday…he hasn’t played for 20 days. He’s good and if he’s with us it’s because he has the chance to play. He could play 20 minutes or 60, but he’s able to play.

“We’re in good form. It’s a phase of difficult and complex matches. We’re facing a tough rival, who came from a very good group. They have the offensive situation to hurt us.

“I like this opponent and we are enthusiastic, with the strength to immerse ourselves in the dream that is the Champions League.

“It’s normal to consider this the shortest way to a trophy as there are fewer games for the Final than in the League. After getting so close to winning this competition we don’t leave the game-by-game.

“It’s an understandable statement. To win we have to score one more goal than the opponent.”

Tags Diego Simeone PSV Eindhoven
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