Ex-Atleti star Kieran Trippier has worked his way up to captain at Newcastle United. His time at Atlético Madrid, where the 32-year-old right back says he has become streetwise, helps him with that.
Of course, as a youth player of Manchester City and a full-fledged power of Tottenham Hotspur, Trippier was used to something. But what the England international experienced during his two-and-a-half at Atlético Madrid was also new to him. In the Spanish capital, Trippier learned the tricks of the trade from trainer Diego Simeone, among others.
In conversation with The Guardian, Trippier cites former competitor Stefan Savic as an example. “That was the best learning experience for me. Savic was always pulling other people’s hair, even during training. That was crazy, but I like such things. Of course the supporters of the opponent don’t like that, but I think it’s good. I don’t understand why everyone is bringing it up,” said the former Spurs man.
Trippier also has nothing but praise for Simeone. “An incredible manager. The most important thing I learned at Atlético is don’t mess with him, because then you’re gone. I have experienced that regularly and I was on the wrong side myself when we played away against AC Milan. That’s not nice, but it’s about respect. And Diego gets that from every player. Then it doesn’t matter whether they are in the base or sitting on the couch. He dealt incredibly well with players who weren’t playing,” the defender praised.
With Newcastle United, Trippier is involved in the battle for a Champions League ticket. On Saturday he will return once to the club where it all started for him. Then title holder Manchester City is the opponent at the Etihad Stadium.
Newcastle United’s dreadful record at Wembley
Sticking with Newcastle United, the club had the chance to win a prize for the first time since 2006, when it won the Intertoto Cup, on Sunday, but Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United was a size too big. This extends Newcastle’s horror series at Wembley.
In 1974 Newcastle United played the FA Cup final against Liverpool. The 3-0 defeat kicked off the club’s dramatic relationship with Wembley Stadium. All eight games that followed ended in defeat, including Sunday’s lost League Cup final. That is the longest losing streak ever by a club in that stadium.
