Diego Simeone says he knew what to expect from Luis Suarez after their first phone call despite acrimonious Barcelona exit as Uruguayan veteran spearheads Atletico Madrid’s title charge
- Diego Simeone says that Luis Suarez expressed ‘desire and energy’ on the phone
- He believes Atletico Madrid has helped Suarez become his best and score again
- Suarez has become LaLiga’s joint-second top scorer – tied with Messi on 11 goals
Diego Simeone says Luis Suarez has delivered exactly what he expected following their initial phone call in 2020.
Simeone believes Suarez has brought the ‘desire and energy’ he expressed on the phone to Atletico Madrid this season.
Since his arrival in September, Suarez has become LaLiga’s joint-second top scorer – tied with his former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi on 11 goals.
Diego Simeone says that Luis Suarez expressed ‘desire and energy’ on the phone in 2020
Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri is currently leading the pack as top goal scorer – although both he and Messi have played more games than Suarez.
Speaking of his phone call with Suarez, Simeone said: ‘The moment I spoke with Luis on the phone I found what he gives on the pitch: a lot of desire and energy.
‘The team helps him to be at his best, which is scoring, something that has marked him throughout his career.’
Simeone believes that Atletico Madrid has helped Suarez become his best and score again
Suarez has become LaLiga’s joint-second top scorer – tied with Lionel Messi on 11 goals
Atletico are currently top of the LaLiga table, sitting 20 points ahead of his former team, Barcelona.
Suarez’s glory at Atletico has come after he was pushed out of the door at the Nou Camp by Ronald Koeman.
Suarez will be keen to look forward, rather than back, as Atletico have the opportunity to stretch their lead at the top of the table when they play Valencia on Sunday.
Atletico head into the fixture four points clear of second place Real Madrid, with two games in hand.
Suarez will be hoping to increase his tally against Javi Gracia’s side – who sit 14th in the table, having failed to win any of their last 12 games against Atletico.
Simeone believes that game will provide a good opportunity for Joao Felix to rediscover his best form.
Suarez’s glory comes after he was shoved out of the door at the Nou Camp by Ronald Koeman
Atletico are top of the LaLiga table, sitting 20 points ahead of his former team, Barcelona
Simeone says Felix can ‘unbalance’ an opposition’s defence and that he can provide Atletico ‘different solutions’.
‘You always seek to focus on a footballer,’ Simeone said. ‘They have good, average and extraordinary moments, and as coaches we try to take advantage of every players’ moments.
‘We need Joao. When he is at his best, he can unbalance [the opposition’s defence] and give different solutions. We need him in that version. It’s what we are looking for in training.’
