Diego Simeone described Koke as an “exemplary captain” after the midfielder made a record-breaking 554th Atletico Madrid look in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Sevilla.
Koke – who got here by way of Atleti’s youth ranks – surpassed fellow Colchoneros nice Adelardo Rodriguez within the membership’s all-time look chart in a routine victory on the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
The 30-year-old marked the event with an help, teeing up Marcos Llorente to attain a positive opener earlier than Alvaro Morata lobbed Yassine Bounou to attain his fourth league objective of the marketing campaign after the break.
Koke has been a key participant all through Simeone’s lengthy reign in Madrid, and the Argentine struggled discover the phrases to explain his captain’s affect after the win.
“It is difficult, in a short time, to express all the feelings I have for him, first as a person and then as a footballer,” Simeone instructed DAZN.
“He is a man who gave himself, who by no means hesitated to commit first to Atletico, along with his team-mates, with the teaching workers, and that’s very troublesome to see.
“He has been an exemplary captain for a few years. It is just not simple to keep up that place in a group like Atletico, with a lot duty.
Jorge Resurrección Merodio ‘Koke’.
A one-club legend. pic.twitter.com/SiWPc5xEfk
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) October 1, 2022
“He could be very clever. I’ve all the time appreciated that he is aware of what needs to be stated, to whom, the place and when. Then as a footballer he has given us a number of issues.
“He has given us hierarchy, work, strength, being able to generate a commitment as a team through the midfielders. Now I see him in an important role, hopefully I can develop it in the best way.”
Meanwhile, Simeone deployed Llorente in an superior position alongside Morata, and was delighted to see the 27-year-old finish a 51-game objective drought by drilling into the bottom-left nook within the first half.
“I am very happy for Llorente because it is a position that interests me, I like it, where I know he can do very well,” Simeone stated.
“He has enormous power and also works for the team. He gives us a lot of speed up front.”
Llorente stated Atleti might have received much more convincingly, however was happy with their show, including: “We are joyful not just for the three factors and the group’s victory, but additionally for the sport.
“At the again we have now been robust, we have now had sufficient probabilities to have an even bigger outcome. But 2-0 right here in Seville is an efficient factor.
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