Diego Simeone: "What this job gives us most is the relationships we build with the players… That Carrasco sends me a message, that I have this bond with Savic—we’ve argued a thousand times but when he comes to Madrid, we go out for dinner… For a coach, that’s priceless. I don’t care how many trophies I may or may not have won. That lasting relationship is a gift from life. "I was lucky—I went through a time with players who understood, almost like close friends, the way I feel about life and football. And they were able to reflect that in the way they played, just as I would’ve liked to express it myself. "Some names that come to mind: Miranda, Godín, Juanfran, Filipe, Arda, Tiago, Koke, Raúl García, Adrián, Falcao, Costa, Villa, Gabi… It fills me with joy because beyond the football, there’s a closeness and affection that remains—whether we go out for dinner or not."