Gustavo López: "I'm expecting an attractive match"

If anyone is qualified to speak about Eduardo Berizzo and Diego Simeone, it is Gustavo López (Lanús, Argentina, 1973). An idol at RC Celta, where he played for eight seasons, the ex-winger spoke to LFP.es about the two coaches that will lock horns this weekend when Atlético Madrid travel to Celta - two coaches that he knows very well, having played with both men in the Argentina national team and with Berrizo for Celta.

LFP.es: You played with Simeone and Berizzo. Were they similar in terms of their character and competitive nature?
Gustavo López: They were different characters but they were equally competitive. As players they were intense guys, winners, fighters. They would infect the rest of their team with their spirit. And now they are demonstrating that as coaches.

LFP.es: Its’ often said that you can tell which players are going to end up as coaches. Was that the case with these two?
Gustavo López: Yes, especially with Cholo. i was lucky enough to spend many years by his side and you could tell he was going to become a coach. He was an extension of the coach on the sidelines, be it (Daniel) Passarella or (Marcelo) Bielsa. He managed the players he had in front of him very well - he was always telling you where to go on the pitch, he organised the team, he infected you with his enthusiasm.

LFP.es: In his time at Atlético, Simeone has won the UEFA Europa League, a UEFA Super Cup, a Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Liga BBVA title. Has his achievements as a coach surprised you?
Gustavo López: I haven’t been surprised by what he has done, because he won something with every team he coached in Argentina. He has always had success as a coach. However, I was surprised at how quickly the team adapted to him, that the players would do exactly what he wanted, but that’s down to what he is trying to transmit, the message he is giving, how he gets through to the players and how he convinces them and always with the same idea. That says a lot about how good a coach he is.

LFP.es: Can you remember a team that was more intense than Simeone’s Atlético?
Gustavo López: There have been a lot of intense teams, but the way that this Atlético Madrid side competes makes it very difficult for the opposition. This is a team that does not just play well, but is also intense, competitive and plays in many different ways. They can play on the counter, play one-touch football, find solutions to difficult games, and create elaborate moves. They demonstrated that very well last week against Real Madrid.

LFP.es: Do you think that Berizzo’s Celta could be like Simeone’s Atlético one day?
Gustavo López: That will depend on a lot of things, above all the players. A coach has to adapt to his players, and they have to adapt to what the coach wants from them. And we will only see if that happens over time. Celta had a good start to the season and did very well in their first 10 games, playing good football and picking up wins. Then after beating Barcelona they had a run of 10 games without winning, although they kept on playing well and creating chances, but they weren’t able to convert them.

LFP.es: As someone who knows Berizzo, will he stay at Celta until he achieves his objectives?
Gustavo López: I think so. He is a coach that has done well at every club he has been at, such as Estudiantes and O’Higgins in Chile. The latter is a humble club but he turned them into champions, and that shows that he is a capable coach. Celta is a project that will take time to bear fruit, but he is a coach that is capable of making his players play good football, as well as winning.

LFP.es: The three of you all played for Marcelo Bielsa in the Argentina national team. Can you see his influence on Berrizo or Simeone?
Gustavo López: In both players, but more on ‘el Toto’ (Berizzo). He plays that intensive brand of football of having a player further forward trying to press the rival as high up the pitch as possible, trying to control the play in every match at every stadium, those are things that Marcelo likes, and they worked together for four years, and so he was always going to influence him, whether he liked it or not. I think ‘el Cholo’ takes things from various coaches he worked under, especially Carlos Bilardo and Coco Basile. He transmits his ideas, his philosophy and his way of playing football, amalgamating all the knowledge from the coaches he worked with.

LFP.es: Do Atlético have a chance of defending their league title?
Gustavo López: Yes, they have a big chance. They’ve got themselves right back in it with this victory over Real Madrid and now they are only four points from the top. They are in good form, they have a very strong squad and they are capable of going on an important run. I think they are serious candidates along with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Do you think Celta will have to fight very hard to avoid relegation?
Gustavo López: No, I think they have too many quality players to end up suffering. They might go through positive and negative runs, but I think that the team play good football and should not have too many problems. I don’t see them suffering too much.

What’s your prediction for Sunday’s game at Balaídos?
Gustavo López: The truth is that I’m very bad at predictions. The only thing I expect is a good game of football, attractive play and that the fans will go home happy.