(FILES) Photo taken on June 29, 1986 Portrait of Argentina's midfielder Diego Maradona in Mexico City before the start of the World Cup final between Argentina and West Germany. - Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020. (Photo by - / AFP)
Former Argentina national team star and current Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone has paid tribute to Diego Maradona, referring to the legend’s mythical status and ability to inspire players around him. Maradona died on Wednesday (November 25) at the age of 60.
Simeone was in the Argentina squad with the Napoli legend at the 1994 World Cup and was a team-mate of the mercurial midfielder at Sevilla in 1992-93.
Shortly after news of Maradona’s death, Atleti kicked off against Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League, with the Group A clash ending 0-0.
“It’s hard. When they call you on the phone and tell you that Diego passed away, you think, ‘Diego cannot die’,” Simeone said at a news conference after the game.
“A myth is leaving us, an Argentine who transmitted all his rebellion to fight with his positive and negative things, but always going forward. The way to get excited about playing soccer was by looking at him.
“He welcomed me in a spectacular way in Seville, I was young. The moment they tell you about this situation [Maradona dying] you say, ‘It can’t be, he can always come out.’
“This time he could not, but he will always be with us, especially with the Argentines, he is a myth and it gives us a lot of sadness and emptiness – it cannot be. A very strong hug for his closest family and a lot of pain.”
Simeone then took the time to reflect on his side’s Champions League draw versus Lokomotiv Moscow. Atleti mustered 20 attempts against Lokomotiv yet could not find the net – it is the most shots a team has amassed in a Champions League match this season without scoring.
The draw leaves Atleti, whose captain Koke had a goal disallowed by VAR on his club-record 100th European appearance, second on five points from four games, and they still have work to do if they are to qualify for the last 16.
“We are concerned with the Champions League, of course, we know that it has started with difficulties,” Simeone added.
“These last two games we generated many chances to win them. The goal came, unfortunately, it was offside.”
— Story by Sammy Wejinya
©SPNAfrica
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