Interesting article on BBC sports page on Trippier, especially interesting is that he mentions Simeone, Guardiola, Klopp & Dyche as great managers with not a mention of Poch!
It is six months since Kieran Trippier swapped north London for Madrid, but the defender has not looked back.
The England international made the switch from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid in the summer and feels he is improving as a player under Diego Simeone - the manager he believes is the best in the world.
In a wide-ranging interview with BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily, the 29-year-old full-back spoke about life in a new country, his relationship with the boss he calls 'Mr' and the prospect of facing Liverpool in the Champions League.
Trippier made the switch to Atletico Madrid in a £20m move from Tottenham last summer, signing a three-year contract with the Spanish club.
"It's been amazing. My wife and two children are the most important thing to me, and also to make sure we found a place for them and for them to feel settled - and they have done, it's made my life a lot easier.
"My Spanish is coming on. I understand a lot more than I can speak. I've got the right people around me who are helping me and the staff have been fantastic. It's not going to be like a day to learn it, it's going to be a process, but I'm excited.
"From day one in pre-season, to see how welcoming everybody is - the players, the staff - I knew straight away I would love it here. It's just so connected, which is the most important thing to me.
"It is different. Being here, you can see how close everyone is, the staff with the players. Even the groundsman and security give you big hugs when you come in. Sometimes in England, I don't think you have that.
"For the players who are not playing, you don't see anyone disappointed here. In England, sometimes if a player is not playing, they can be angry - everyone wants to get picked - but here, it just shows how good the man-management is as everyone is laughing and joking and you don't see anyone disappointed."
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'I call Simeone "Mr" - they don't know gaffer!'
Atletico have been extremely successful under Simeone, who has led them to a La Liga title, one Copa del Rey success and two Europa League wins since 2011.
"It can be difficult [to understand each other]; he does try to say little words in English. On the pitch it's not a problem, though. I know what he demands of his players. I know what he needs and expects from the team.
"I think everybody knows how good he is, how passionate he is when he is on the touchline and when he's in training. He's unbelievable and I've got this opportunity to learn from him.
"You always see him with an arm around the young lads. When you see him fired up it gives you a lift and it just shows how passionate he is.
"I call him 'Mr' which is the Spanish for 'boss'. I have to tell people [what I mean] when I call him 'gaffer'. It's so different.
"Is Simeone the best manager in the world now? For me, personally, yes. When people actually play for him they realise how good he is.
"Obviously you've got some good managers: Klopp, Guardiola... Sean Dyche! You've got quality managers out there but he's certainly up there for sure.
Sean Dyche is a brilliant manager. From the first day he walked in ]he sorted my career out basically.
"From when I was young, stupid and going out, he just sat me down and said 'no more'. Unbelievable manager and I loved playing for him and, who knows, one day I might get the opportunity to play for him again."
'I can improve on my defending'
"In the Premier League, I was too eager to get forward. I feel like here, my understanding of when to go forward, when to defend, my positioning, has been helped a lot.
"Obviously I can improve on my defending, which I need to do, and there's no better place, no better club to put in the defensive work.
"It starts on the training field. Tactically the manager works with you individually and, for me, man-management is the most important thing and I think he's unbelievable at that.
Atletico face holders Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday 18 February, followed three weeks later by the second leg at Anfield.
"Playing here has given me a good opportunity to watch nearly every single game in the Premier League and I've watched Liverpool a lot and seen for the last two and a half years how good they've been.
"The players they have brought in, the manager, you see how they have developed, they have been fantastic and made two Champions League finals.
"This season has been fantastic and to be that far ahead in the Premier League, with how intense the Premier League is, it just shows what a good job Jurgen Klopp has done.
Trippier
posted on 28/1/20
comment by LukaBrasi (U22178)
posted 14 minutes ago
Personally I think Spurs inserted a gagging order to stop him talking about any fall out between him and Poch (if there was one) as in another interview, shortly after he signed for Athletico he did say he has to be careful with what he says about his time at Spurs.
If he has nothing good to say better he stays quiet and good luck to him. The overreaction to him from some of our fans during his time with us made me cringe and never helped a bad situation get better. See Sissoko, Rose and now Aurier. Credit to Sissoko and Rose for turning the fans onside after a lot of uncalled for abuse.
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Rose turned the fans around only to turn them back again.
posted on 28/1/20
Playing in the perfect system
Glad he's happy
posted on 28/1/20
comment by palmers_spur (U8896)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi (U22178)
posted 14 minutes ago
Personally I think Spurs inserted a gagging order to stop him talking about any fall out between him and Poch (if there was one) as in another interview, shortly after he signed for Athletico he did say he has to be careful with what he says about his time at Spurs.
If he has nothing good to say better he stays quiet and good luck to him. The overreaction to him from some of our fans during his time with us made me cringe and never helped a bad situation get better. See Sissoko, Rose and now Aurier. Credit to Sissoko and Rose for turning the fans onside after a lot of uncalled for abuse.
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Rose turned the fans around only to turn them back again.
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Agreed, if you were to sum up his time at Spurs from a fan's perspective in three words it would be hate, love, hate lol
posted on 28/1/20
Yeah must be pretty dreadful if he went from Spurs to Athletico Madrid
posted on 28/1/20
comment by Everywhere you go always take Lamela with you (U7905)
posted 35 minutes ago
Dreadful player. Even worse than Aurier. Glad we got £20m for him, but ridiculous he wasn't replaced.
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I think much bigger things were expected from KWP than he's been able to deliver.
Trips himself admitted he had a poor season last year and I don't think he was shocked that the club were happy to let him go.
When our current crop of players publish their memoirs I don't think it will make great reading for Poch. Somewhere along the way he lost their respect and theres alot we don't know about yet.
posted on 28/1/20
Rose already recently came out and praised Poch, while criticising Levy and the board. Don't think there would be much animosity there for Poch if he does talk about it again. Other players have had lots of good things to say about Poch and their relationship. Clearly though with Trippier you can tell he doesn't hold him in high regard for whatever reason.
To be honest, Dyche and Simeone are known for being good galvanisers of the defence so no surprise they get credit by a defender, compared to Poch. I wouldn't say it's one of Poch's biggest strengths.
posted on 28/1/20
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 8 minutes ago
Rose already recently came out and praised Poch, while criticising Levy and the board. Don't think there would be much animosity there for Poch if he does talk about it again. Other players have had lots of good things to say about Poch and their relationship. Clearly though with Trippier you can tell he doesn't hold him in high regard for whatever reason.
To be honest, Dyche and Simeone are known for being good galvanisers of the defence so no surprise they get credit by a defender, compared to Poch. I wouldn't say it's one of Poch's biggest strengths.
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I think there will be plenty said about the decision not to start Moura in the cl final.
There are other little clues as well like Toby being quite happy to sign a new deal after he'd gone.
The players clearly downed tools for him and I think in a few years time we'll have a better idea why.
posted on 28/1/20
Kane, Dele and Hugo all adored poch
posted on 28/1/20
No top manager pleases all his players - if he does he is usually a yes man. Look at Fergie and united, Stam, Keane, Beckham, Van nistelrooy etc.. Look at Pep with Yaya, Eto’o, Ibrahimovic etc
posted on 28/1/20
comment by PawlBawron (U1055)
posted 2 hours, 38 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 8 minutes ago
Rose already recently came out and praised Poch, while criticising Levy and the board. Don't think there would be much animosity there for Poch if he does talk about it again. Other players have had lots of good things to say about Poch and their relationship. Clearly though with Trippier you can tell he doesn't hold him in high regard for whatever reason.
To be honest, Dyche and Simeone are known for being good galvanisers of the defence so no surprise they get credit by a defender, compared to Poch. I wouldn't say it's one of Poch's biggest strengths.
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I think there will be plenty said about the decision not to start Moura in the cl final.
There are other little clues as well like Toby being quite happy to sign a new deal after he'd gone.
The players clearly downed tools for him and I think in a few years time we'll have a better idea why.
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Possibly so. Until then I'm going to reserve any judgement on Poch and still won't think of him or his managerial quality any differently.