"Koke is my inspiration both on and off the pitch"

Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios said on Monday that Diego Simeone “is absolutely right” when he demands more goals, because it is one of the “many things” that he still has to “improve”, he remarked that he is in “a good moment” and labelled Koke Resurreccion as an “inspiration”.

Last Saturday, the coach asked him for more goals: “He has a lot of positive things that make us good as a team and, obviously, things to improve. He is in a stage of growth, of mental openness to be able to generate better things and I have no doubt that when he starts to get closer to the goal he will be even more decisive”.

Barrios accepted the challenge on Monday: “We have been talking about it and he is absolutely right. It is true that I have to make a little more effort when I get there in the last yards to try to keep the goal in mind and it is one of the things, many things, that I have to improve and I will try to do it”.

The midfielder appeared at a press conference on the eve of the Champions League matchday five match against Sparta in Prague, to which he arrives in “a good moment, since now” he is not “with the issue of injuries and physically” he is “very well”.

“I'm very comfortable on the field and delighted to be able to help the team,” he said. He does not mind the demarcation. “I've always said that I don't care what position I play, always with the aim of helping the team. And whether as a No 5 or as an 8 a little further forward, I feel comfortable in both positions and always trying to help the team and do well,” said Barrios, who was asked about Koke Resurrección.

“Koke is my inspiration both on and off the field. It is a privilege to share a dressing room with him. I look to him a lot to improve and hopefully I can continue playing many games with him,” said Barrios.

 

November 25, 2024