リヴァプールのユルゲン・クロップ監督が、激突するアトレティコ・マドリーのディエゴ・シメオネ監督について語った。
プレミアリーグでは首位を独走し優勝目前、トップチームが出場した試合では昨年9月以降負けがないなど、圧倒的な強さを見せるリヴァプール。前年度王者として臨むチャンピオンズリーグ(CL)では、決勝トーナメント1回戦でアトレティコと激突する。
18日に控えたファーストレグを前に、クロップ監督はシメオネ監督について言及。サイドライン際で見せる熱いアクションなど、両者には共通点も多いと言われているが、ドイツ人指揮官はジョークを交えつつ、シメオネ監督のアクションには及ばないと語った。
「周りは私がサイドラインで感情的になっていると言うね。もし私がレベル4ならば、ディエゴはレベル12かそこらだろうね! 彼に対して、私はキンダガートン・コップみたいなものだ」
そして、8年間にわたってアトレティコを率い、クラブを現在の姿に成長させたアルゼンチン人指揮官の情熱を絶賛している。
「8年間、すべての年月でだ。それは本当に長いもの。それでもまだ、このようなエモーショナル・レベルを持っている。ワオ、とても印象的だね」
「彼のチームは常に世界最高レベルの組織であり、それが彼を世界最高の1人であらしめる。我々は一度か2度会って、大勝や大敗について語りあったよ。そして明日、激しく競争的なゲームで初めて対戦する。面白くなるだろうね」
また、シメオネ監督とのスタイルの違いについては「彼のスタイルやマネジメントの違いなど知るほど、彼のことはよくわからない。彼は世界最高峰の選手だったが、私はそうではないからね」とコメント。現在直近7試合で1勝と苦しむアトレティコだが、クロップ監督は「時間が必要なだけ」と考えているようだ。
「これがフットボールだ。(ディエゴ)ゴディンを失う、(アントワーヌ)グリーズマンを失う、フアンフランを失い、1年前にはガビも失った。これは厳しいね。チームの変化を迫られ、新加入選手は哲学やスタイルに慣れる必要がある。それには時間がかかる。周りは時間をくれないけどね」
「彼らはCL権を獲得できると思っているよ。移行の年では素晴らしいものだ。そして来季以降はさらに正しい道を進み、スペインを再び脅かすだろう。アトレティコの人たちは心配しすぎだよ」
いよいよ再開するCL。ワンダ・メトロポリターノでの一戦では、ピッチ上だけでなく、サイドライン際の“攻防”にも注目だ。
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