Diego Simeone has clarified a statement he made about both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in a conversation which was leaked last year. The Atletico Madrid manager gave the impression of preferring the former to his compatriot in a Whatsapp audio message that emerged in the media while the two players led their respective nations at the last World Cup in Russia.
In this season's UEFA Champions League, 'Lady Luck' failed to smile at Diego Simeone as Cristiano Ronaldo proved to be a thorn in the side of the Argentine manager's side despite departing from La Liga last season. The 34-year-old Portuguese superstar scored a hat trick to eliminate La Rojiblancos at the Round of 16 stage of the competition.
While the ex-Real Madrid star's exploits went unnoticed, Simeone has given delivered an all-new analytical perspective on the Ronaldo-Messi debate.
"What I consider is that in a team with fewer solutions, Ronaldo is a better fit because he provides many solutions," said Simeone, according to Marca.
"For a team which focuses on football, Messi is much better.
"We are talking about very fine margins of how a team plays.
"Ronaldo can decide a game in a different way, he doesn't need ten attacks. He scored two headers against us and we were out.
"Both need a team but the differences are very small," he added.
"Lionel, in an attacking team always plays better. The other [Ronaldo] can win a game in two actions, he simplifies the situations.
"Messi is mesmerising because he plays elaborate football.
"Leo plays in a team that compliments all of his talent. He always ends up finding solutions."
