“I felt like the king of Calderon” | Relief

The gray hair comes from the beard that best defended and controlled the ball in Simeone’s first champion at Atlético Madrid. It’s hard to say his name without Calderon shouting it echoing in your head. Ar-da-Tu-ran appears in the hotel lobby in front of the Reina Sofia Museum, because his passion has always been art, before he went to watch his Atlético, first the Juvenil team and then the Metropolitano.

The day before he was at the Bernabeu supporting his friend Sahin. His time in Spain (he also saw Valencia-Las Palmas live) is chronicled in this conversation, in which the current Eyupspor coach answers in Turkish and his friend Ata translates. With you is Arda Turan, alchemist of the Bosphorus.who, due to time constraints, was unable to ask everything the journalist had in mind. Turkish always had this aftertaste. He gave what he wanted, not everything he had inside. That’s what geniuses are.

What about Madrid, do people recognize you on the street?

It’s always nice to come back. I was very happy here and love this city. I went to watch two Champions League matches: Madrid-Borussia and Atlético-Lille. I went to the first one by metro. Some recognized me (laughs).

What do you think about the match in Madrid?

Well, there were good and bad things in it. Dortmund started very well, but then Madrid responded. Both made changes and it worked out much better for Ancelotti. Shaheen is a very good friend of mine since I was little. He can read football very well. He never stops thinking about developing and improving his players. He has a future, this is a good example.

And Arda Guler?

I couldn’t see him. Sometimes we talk, but I don’t like to bother the players before the game. He has a lot of talent, but of course at Real Madrid everyone has it, so it’s harder to stand out. With patience, if he continues to work, being so young… there will come a time when he will play very regularly. He is very good on the ball. You should enjoy it and carry on.

Let’s move to the other end of the city, to your side. How do you remember your arrival at Atlético?

Miguel Angel and Caminero especially played an important role in his future. At that time (I’m talking about 2012) I had an injury, due to which I was out of action for several months and they also trusted me. They paid Galatasaray a good amount (about 12 million euros). As soon as I arrived I felt very loved. They helped me a lot: Manzano (then coach), Oscar Pitillas (physical retrainer). Gregorio was a very good man, he had a very good character.

As a coach, how are you similar and different from Simeone?

It’s impossible to work with Cholo and not take something from him. Imagine being with him for so many years. I want my team to defend like Simeone. Like 4-4-2 nowadays. Sometimes also 5-3-2. In the attack I want to put my weapons, my seals and my decisions. But I also know what league I’m in and what’s required of me (I was recently promoted). The starting point must be defensive. If you guarantee a clean result, you are closer to winning.

Do you like attacking more than Simeone?

It depends on the party. First of all, they don’t score on you. If you succeed, you have a chance to win until the last minute. Like Cholo. Now at Eyupspor they expect us not to win the championship, but to play well. We are fifth and there is no pressure on me. Just finish as high as possible. I try to make sure we play football very well. They demand that Cholo win every game.

Is it really more expensive for Simeone to get results from talented players than from defensive specialists?

He always gets the best out of each player so that their performance improves the team. This is the most difficult thing. Griezmann is a world-class player of choice, he sacrifices and runs. And he’s a better player now than he was years ago.

Is it true that you said you don’t want to run for Atlético anymore?

(Smiles) Sometimes I said that we were a little tired from running. I loved playing defense and giving everything I had to my coach and teammates. He convinced us that we would win by fighting together. How long can a good player hold the ball in a game? Two minutes? Three? We run and run almost the entire game.

How much do you remember about training with Professor Ortega?

When I talk with my physical education coaches, we try to follow the course, the methodology of prof. We follow him. As for missing, I miss everything. Outwardly, we have achieved success, there are titles and results. But inside we had another type of success: we were a family. One supported the other. And now it’s a source of pride to see that colleagues are already starting their coaching careers. Like Filipe Luis at Flamengo, Adrian second at Rayo… I’m very excited. I’ve seen the video of Filipe in the locker room ten times. I also saw the end of Raul Garcia’s career on video.

Do you have a WhatsApp group from that time?

No, but we are in touch. Mario Suarez talks a lot, he’s been writing all day.

How did you sign for Barça?

There came a time when I thought my time at Atlético was over. That he has achieved a lot. And this also brought profit to the club, an important figure. Both sides were happy. My agent told me that Luis Enrique wants me. I love him. Personally and professionally. He’s an incredible person. He always spoke to his face. He was interested in me and for me it was the best team in the world. Everyone would like to join this team.

You signed a contract in the summer, but couldn’t play until January. Do you think it hurt you?

(Nods head) If you weren’t mentally strong, it affected you. This happened to me for the first time in my life. It was a difficult situation because I really wanted to play. Yes, it had an impact. But the next year I played quite a lot and well. Then Valverde arrived and you already know his skill. (In other interviews, Arda has been critical of her experiences with him.)

I read that you were close to joining United. What’s happened?

This was before the move to Barça (2013, before winning La Liga and second place in the Champions League). Miguel Angel Gil Marin wanted me to stay. Sometimes we act more with our hearts. And one evening, in front of Ramses (a trendy place in Puerta de Alcala), in the car with Miguel Angel, I extended my contract with Atlético. Without even looking at the contracts. He is a very important person in my life. I always trusted him. We are professionals, but a very important part of me is related to feelings. I try to follow them. There were Miguel Angel, Rafa (Alike, director of public relations), Pedro Pablo (delegate), Vizcaino, Mono Burgos… I will never forget them.

You speak very gently. Atlético is more to your heart than Barça, right?

Transparent. Barça is important and I wish them all the best. At that moment it was the best for me, but Atlético is my home, my family. And when you come home, they always welcome you with open arms.

This means that the fans have already forgiven you for leaving.

This is football, we are professionals. When I look back I try to remember the good times. Look what happened to Antoine (Griezmann). At first they whistled, but now everything is forgotten. This is how families work. We’ve had a lot of success and that’s what I want us to be remembered for. We were one of the best teams in Europe. At Calderon I felt like a king.

Do you think there is anything in common between Atlético Madrid players who go to Barça and are not successful? It happened to you, to Griezmann, to Joao Felix.

(He thinks about it.) These are different game systems and philosophies, but this is not a determining factor because a good player must adapt to different paths. There is one factor that I think has a lot to do with this. When you are at Atlético, you are one of the most important. You feel like this. And when you get there, you’re just anyone. This affects the sensations. Sometimes you don’t feel as important and you don’t play right.

What is your goal as a coach in the short and long term?

In the short term, Eyupspor should qualify for European competition. Then one day I can train in Spain or in a top-level European league. This is approximately what I achieved as a player, with talent and work. Improve and develop. That my teams show personality on the field, that they are aggressive, have fun and win.

Which coach would you like to be like based on his playing pattern?

(He answers in Spanish for the first time) In Cholo’s defense. In attack on Luis Enrique. It’s a solver, it gives you a lot of options. In any case, we will mix it all up, and the result will be the Arda Turan coach.