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'In Germany, Atleti means two things: Simeone and Koke'
Bayern supporters admire the captain as the kind of one-club man Germans revere
Rubén Uría responds to Matthäus with Germany's respect for Koke
German journalist Miguel Gutiérrez explains that in his country Atlético boil down to Simeone and Koke, and that the captain's loyalty to his club commands enormous respect. Rubén Uría contrasts this with Matthäus.
Rubén Uría revisits a conversation with Miguel Gutiérrez, whom he introduces as a former German correspondent in Spain, a supporting member of Borussia Dortmund and someone with a soft spot for Atlético. What struck him most was what he said about Koke.
According to his guest, for Germans Atlético come down to two names: Simeone and Koke. The captain is held in the highest regard for being a one-club man, a profile greatly admired in Germany. He compares him to Michael Zorc at Dortmund, the legendary central midfielder who went on to spend two decades as sporting director.
He adds that in Germany, where fanbases are famously loud, Atlético's supporters are considered among the best in Spain.
Uría seizes the opportunity to send a message to Matthäus: instead of trashing Atleti, he could have said that at Bayern there is respect for Simeone and, above all, for a player like Koke.