Simeone on Cuti Romero: 'Authority and leadership'

Asked by Nacho Donado at his press conference, Simeone explained what Cuti Romero brings on and off the pitch: authority, personality and leadership grounded in humility, plus the year-long wait it took to sign him.

Rubén Uría revisits one of the moments from the previous night: the question Nacho Donado, special correspondent for El Club Uría, put to Diego Simeone in the Metropolitano press room. Uría asks the audience to take note of every word.

Donado put the question directly to Simeone in the press room after the match: last season Simeone was calling for more balance and fewer goals conceded; against United the opposition had chances, but the clean sheet was kept. He added a detail spotted from the stands: when Lenormand comes on, the first to encourage him after a clearance is Cuti. How much has his arrival made a difference?

Simeone replied that they wanted Cuti two years ago, that they came close and had to wait another year. He described him as a different kind of footballer, with authority, personality and leadership, "things that can't be explained": you either have them or you don't. He added that Cuti exercises them with humility and respect for his teammates, aware that he has only just arrived, yet already holding an important place that he proves match after match.