Diego Simeone: "Messi is a matchwinner, but he needs a team around him to be more powerful"
Diego Pablo Simeone spoke exclusively to FIFA and was asked about Argentina and Lionel Messi's role under the new coach, Gerardo 'Tata' Martino.
"Messi is a matchwinner who needs a team around him to be even more powerful," the Atletico Madrid boss explained.
"We were really close [to winning] the World Cup and I hope that Martino, who already knows him after his spell at Barça, can set his team up around [Messi] in the best possible way.
"But above all, that he can turn the group into a team. That is what would be best for Messi."
It led to the question about Simeone one day managing his homeland. He admitted it was something he'd like to do, but not for the time being.
"I still feel like I need to be on the training pitches, interacting with my players every day and the national team job doesn't give you that," he answered.
"Would I like to do the job? Without doubt. I spent 12 or 14 years [playing for Argentina] and I feel privileged that it was part of my life.
"I hope we can meet again at the ideal moment for both of us."
PHILOSOPHY AT ATLETICO
The Rojiblancos boss also talked about closing the gap on Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain's Primera Division.
"Taking on two giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona is very hard," he continued. "If you think about it, in our domestic league we’re up against two clubs who are always expected to win the Champions League.
"We’ve managed to break that hegemony – just as we did in 1996 when I was a player – and triumph over the kind of financial muscle and great players that they acquire.
"There are myriad ways of playing but, as I’ve said before, I base things on the qualities of the players I have, empowering individuals for the betterment of the team.
"In all the finals we’ve competed in, we’ve used our top players, but we don’t believe that you can win with talent alone. Talent has to be accompanied by effort as well, and that’s shared around when you work as a team."
And despite Atletico finally breaking their curse against Madrid with Simeone in charge, the 44-year-old says Los Blancos fans are actually full of praise for the work he is doign at the Vicente Calderon.
"On the one hand I’m sure they don’t like me but, on the other, I get shown a lot of respect when I’m out on the street," he said.
"I get a lot of people coming up to me saying 'I’m a Real Madrid fan, but I’d honestly like to congratulate you. I like the way your guys work and how much of a team they are'."
