Kieran Trippier was one of the best right-backs in the Premier League during his Tottenham Hotspurs days. He then signed for La Liga club Atletico Madrid where he won the La Liga title last season beating the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The England international has now returned to the Premier League as he signed for Newcastle United in the winter transfer window. However, he said glorious words about his days playing under Diego Simeone.
Kieran Trippier reveals what’s it like to play under Diego Simeone
Kieran Trippier said in an interview with the True Geordie podcast said: “After Christmas, we weren’t allowed to say ‘good morning’. That’s what the manager said. We had to say ‘champions’ from Christmas.”
“He set the stall for the players at Christmas. We weren’t allowed to say good morning, he was like ‘we’re going to be champions’, the physios, everybody.”
“All the physios [were] coming in, every game from Christmas, all wearing Atletico Madrid shirts.”
He continued: “My experiences in Spain have changed me completely, and that’s from the manager. I can’t speak highly enough of him, he’s that good.”
“He’s just mental, he’s just different. When you see him on the touchline, that’s how he is in training.”
Trippier injured his metatarsal against Aston Villa last month and has been on the sidelines since. He said: “It was my fifth metatarsal, there was a fracture in there so I had to have surgery, I had to have a bolt [put] in it.”
“The surgeon is happy, my physios are happy which makes me a lot better.”
“[The timescale] is different, some players have been six weeks, some players have been eight weeks, 10 weeks but it’s about the individual. For me now it’s about supporting the lads and getting points on the board.”
