The efficient Argentine denied claims that he and his counterpart will have a direct influence on the outcome of Wednesday's Europa League final.
Diego Simeone recognized that although Marcelo Bielsa is an important figure for Athletic Bilbao, it will be the players who decide the outcome of the final of the Europa League on Wednesday.
"The players are the ones that play and we are only on the outside. Like I have always said, I have great admiration for Bielsa, and great memories. He is a great professional," Simeone declared to the press.
The Argentine coach, who lifted the UEFA Cup as a player with Inter Milan, is conscious that in order to win matches of this nature, experience is very important, because the players who are more accustomed to fighting for big things know how to deal with the added pressure and the nervousness better than those who lack experience.
Simeone believes that in order to overcome Athletic his side must be very "compact and fast," and should "confront" the game "as if it were a league game," because this would reduce the tendency for nerves.
"By facing another Spanish side, one whom we have faced in the league, means that we know one another. The best thing about facing another Spanish team is that it is very important for Spanish soccer," he added.
Simeone defined Athletic Bilbao as "a team with lots of intensity, with a direct style of soccer, fast" and admitted that they are unlikely to abandon "their style"because it is a final.
"They’ve been playing this way their entire campaign. Knowing their coach, I’m convinced that they won't change their style of play. For them it is the same thing whether it be a friendly or a final. They won't change," he concluded.
Bucharest awaits what promises to be a fascinating all-Spanish Europa League final on Wednesday.
"The players are the ones that play and we are only on the outside. Like I have always said, I have great admiration for Bielsa, and great memories. He is a great professional," Simeone declared to the press.
The Argentine coach, who lifted the UEFA Cup as a player with Inter Milan, is conscious that in order to win matches of this nature, experience is very important, because the players who are more accustomed to fighting for big things know how to deal with the added pressure and the nervousness better than those who lack experience.
Simeone believes that in order to overcome Athletic his side must be very "compact and fast," and should "confront" the game "as if it were a league game," because this would reduce the tendency for nerves.
"By facing another Spanish side, one whom we have faced in the league, means that we know one another. The best thing about facing another Spanish team is that it is very important for Spanish soccer," he added.
Simeone defined Athletic Bilbao as "a team with lots of intensity, with a direct style of soccer, fast" and admitted that they are unlikely to abandon "their style"because it is a final.
"They’ve been playing this way their entire campaign. Knowing their coach, I’m convinced that they won't change their style of play. For them it is the same thing whether it be a friendly or a final. They won't change," he concluded.
Bucharest awaits what promises to be a fascinating all-Spanish Europa League final on Wednesday.
