"The coach told me: 'Juan, how do you see yourself to play there.' And I replied: 'I want to play anywhere'. He perceived that I was going to be committed and that I was going to listen to him in everything. He squeezed me a lot with lateral movements and taught me a lot of things. In a week I received a whole masterclass, "reminds EL MUNDO Juanfran Torres (Crevillente, 1985), now in Sao Paulo, who has since made a career (and a very good one) as a right back. Although the first to delay his position was Manzano - "Baraja told him so" - who carried that bet to the end was Simeone.

From that first day at La Rosaleda (2012) to that last one at the Ciudad de Valencia stadium, just over a year ago, Juanfran accumulated 305 games with Atlético, played in a World Cup and two Eurocopas (he won one) defending the right flank. “We had to play against Real Sociedad and Antoine [Griezmann] was leaving. 'This week I'm going to put you back there. You're not going to shit on Griezmann, are you? 'He asked me. And I said no, I was going to eat it. He replied: 'I have no doubt about that, we are going to work this week'. And he prepared the week to defend Antoine and his diagonals, and movements to the back. Things went well and, from there, in all training sessions I learned movements with him and with Germán [Burgos], ”he adds. And he gives the recipe that served (and continues to serve) other players: «The important thing is that he believes in you and, of course, you believe in yourself. You can have respect when facing the new position, but not fear ». In those is, for example, Marcos Llorente . Although, since 2011, there have been a few more.

Raúl García

When Simeone arrived at Atlético, he was on loan in Pamplona, ​​his hometown, scoring goals. There he put aside his discreet role as a midfielder, for which Javier Aguirre signed him in 2006 and, in the distance, began to open the eyes of who would be his coach. Of the 45 goals he signed as a rojiblanco, 36 scored them in his three seasons with Cholo. As attacking midfielder, extreme or interior and, above all, always predisposed to put his head where others think. Raúl ended up becoming a goal scorer who, even today, on the way to 34 years old, continues to be useful to Athletic.

Antoine Griezmann

"Griezmann seemed that he could only play in band and we made him second striker," Simeone reviewed a few dates ago. More than 100 games (119) in attack point led to 68 goals and almost another hundred (99) afternoons as playmaker, in 47 more . It took the French a few months to assimilate these new tactical and physical demands, away from the band where he dazzled at Real. There were 257 duels and the conversion of a brilliant extreme into one of the best players on the planet. Concepts that also served France to conquer the 2018 World Cup.

Lucas Hernández

Perhaps, had he been a simple central defender, Bayern would not have released 80 million for him. "It seemed he was just central and ended up being world champion as a left back, after a great match against Cristiano." In the memory of Simeone is that first day in which he was impressed with that boy who bit in training. It premiered in the center of the rear, in 2014, at just 18 years old, and ended up being the perfect complement for Filipe Luis, when the physicist was no longer accompanying the Brazilian. From him, precisely, from Filipe, he learned many of the secrets to cope freely in that lane. Up to 52 games he came to play, including the last one with Atlético, in the Wanda Metropolitano derby against Real Madrid, in February 2019. His knee problems prevented him from increasing that high number of matches.

Angel Correa

He has never hidden what he feels when he plays in the band. "I suffer a lot because it takes a tremendous effort throughout the game," he often repeats, every time he is asked about the sacrifices of his position. And Simeone, the ideologist of his relocation, never skims flattery: "He always does his part to balance the flank." Ángel came from Argentina as a promising playmaker. Today, 120 of his 225 games with Atlético, he has completed from midfield. From there he has signed 15 of his 37 goals and 15 of his 36 assists. Cholo convinced him to assume that role and he, with faith and desire, convinced the stands.

Giménez has ever stepped on the midfielder, Saúl the left-back and Thomas the midfielder or the right-back. Because in a matter of inventions, few beat Simeone.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • First division
  • sports
  • soccer

LaLiga Santander 2019 - 2020The redemption with dedication of Diego Costa and the strange athletic trident in Bilbao

LaLiga Santander 2019 - 2020Simeone's digital staging: "Now five minutes will have more value"

Atlético de MadridMarcos Llorente: "You should not ask for forgiveness for your past, but give everything and earn your love"

See links of interest

  • Last minute
  • Spanish translator
  • Programming
  • 2020 calendar
  • Horoscope today
  • League classification
  • Santander League Calendar
  • Movies today
  • Themes
  • San Pablo Burgos - MoraBanc Andorra
  • Herbalife Gran Canaria - Valencia Basket
  • Real Madrid - Casademont Zaragoza
  • Juventus - Lecce
  • Seville - Real Valladolid