The presence of the Italian press always excites Diego Pablo Simeone, closely linked to Italy due to his family roots and his experience in football. The Argentine coach likes it when Transalpine journalists ask him about it. Especially if they are the journalists who follow Inter, the complex rival that Atlético faces this Wednesday at the Metropolitano (9pm, Movistar Lc). “Mamma Mia, (Roberto) Baggio, what a player,” exclaimed Cholo, delighting in his Italian. Simeone has never hidden his intention and desire to coach Inter, for which he was a player for two seasons (1997-99). A short but intense period that marked him. “In my career as a coach I imagine a period at Inter”, he said to the delight of the Italian journalists.
If Simeone seems to have clear ideas about the future, the present of tonight’s match immerses him in a sea of doubts. Especially the right with the loss of Marcos Llorente and the decision whether to field Giuliano or not. This causes discomfort at the intersection of the hamstrings and back of the knee. The winger trained yesterday at the Metropolitano, but among the club’s medical services there is fear that excessive effort could lead to a stoppage that would leave him out of the pitch for two months.
If Giuliano finally does not return to the eleven, Simeone would lose his most powerful side in both defense and attack. The duo he formed with Llorente is considered one of the most powerful in Europe, due to their ability to continually burst into space. In the league, on that side, Atlético has scored ten goals and in the Champions League five. Individually, so far this season, Llorente has scored three goals and provided three assists and Giuliano has recorded five goals and four assists.
Llorente’s defeat made way for Nahuel Molina, who has not regained the level that made him undisputed in the Argentina that became world champions in 2022. “Marcos’ injury is an important loss for us,” admitted Molina. Simeone’s efforts to recover him and give him confidence also included his presence in a press conference this Tuesday. “El Cholo always insisted with me, he encouraged me to continue training, to continue believing in me, that he believed in me. In the end the opportunity is always there and you have to recover when you have to find yourself in a bad moment”, added the Argentine full-back. If Giuliano doesn’t play in the end, Simeone will have to see how he strengthens that flank, where the powerful and deep Dimarco attacks. Barrios, Gallagher, Nico González or even Raspadori could be Simeone’s solution to help Molina.
“Inter play very well, with personality, they have a clear plan, especially in attack. They have an incredible squad”, praised their rival Simeone, who thinks that his coach, the Romanian Cristian Chivu, maintains the mold of Simone Inzaghi, “but he has changed some things”.
“I want to have a career like Simeone’s”, confessed the Inter coach, who at the Metropolitano presents himself with his captain and scorer Lautaro Martínez as a great threat for the red and whites. “Before they said he didn’t score in the Champions League (4 goals this season) and only did so in Serie A) and now it’s the opposite,” concluded the Argentine striker.
