How El Cholo made Filipe Luis dread texts, but also made him a star

Brazilian veteran defender Filipe Luis is winding his career down back in his homeland with Flamengo. He was one of the men Diego Simeone could always depend on during Atletico Madrid’s revival. He was a Chelsea flop. He tasted endless joy and utter despair on the football pitch. And he’s got stories to tell.

After coming to prominence with now-lowly Deportivo La Coruna between 2006 and 2010, left-back Filipe Luis was a sought-after player in Spain. Atletico came calling and he made the move to the Spanish capital. But Atletico weren’t the powerhouse they are today. He didn’t play much in his first season as Atleti struggled under coach Gregorio Manzano.

But then a change happened in late 2011, a change that would transform both Atletico Madrid and Filipe Luis’ career. Diego Simeone was appointed manager.

A strict tactician who leads his team as if it was an army heading for battle, Simeone never let the players have it easy. Luis loves to talk about their relationship and has spoken about it as well as many aspects of his life in an interview with Daily Mail.

“Take my word for it - it’s not easy to play for Diego Simeone. He has no heart. He never says to himself: ‘Oh, what a pity, poor little player, I need to do this or that.’ No. He will decide what he has to decide solely in order to win. When he took over in 2011 the team was four points off relegation and he made them Europa League winners just a few months later. He turned them into the monstrous side they are now. That success has one name: Diego Simone.”

Luis quickly bought into Simeone’s style of football and has turned into one of the best defenders in La Liga. But it wasn’t easy. With El Cholo it’s never easy.

“Now I can send and receive messages from him as a friend but back then every time I received one – cue look of dread – it was stressful. “About 120 players have been though the club since he arrived. Some came as stars and didn’t play, others arrived with no credibility and became stars. It’s an enormous achievement. And he doesn’t waste time, ever. He’ll never do an 'ah, let’s have fun today' session. I was a full-back lacking confidence in December when he arrived and the best left-back in the world by January. He’s the only person who has managed to get that from me.”

Needless to say, Simeone and Luis helped Atletico stay clear of relegation in June 2012. Strong signs of progress were emerging from the red and white half of Madrid the following year as Atleti finished third in the league. And it’s gotten even better as the team fought off competition from Real Madrid and Barcelona to lift the title in 2013/14 season.

That season would end in heartbreak, however. Atleti reached the Champions League final only to lose against their city rivals Real Madrid.

“The day before the 2014 final I received 200 good luck messages and I made the mistake of looking at them before the game. That put so much pressure on me. I didn’t know what it was to play a final. I ended up playing one of the best games I have ever played. I never misplaced a pass, I defended better than ever against Gareth Bale. I was perfect. But then when the second half started, I got cramp from so much tension generated before the game.”

Filipe represented Brazil in the 2018 World Cup (©Reuters)

He came off with his team 1-0 up. Sergio Ramos equalised and Madrid beat Atletico 4-1 in extra time.

That was his last game for Diego Simeone. Or so it seemed at the time. Filipe was transferred to Chelsea where he’s work for another charismatic manager in Jose Mourinho. The Brazilian was happy to go to England and test himself playing in the Premier League. But the problem was – he wasn’t playing.

‘When I was on the bench for the first game of the season, I knocked on Mourinho’s office door and said: ‘Why did you bring me here? Why didn’t you just leave me at Atletico?’ He said that he didn’t feel as secure defensively with me in the team as he did with Azpilicueta and that I will have to fight to win my place. I couldn’t expect that because of my name I was going to be first choice. Looking back at it now - he was right. I wasn’t playing well. But I also think you have to be on the pitch to improve. I never regretted the move because I was at one of the biggest clubs in the world but everyone wants to play!”

After just one season in London, Atletico put in an offer to re-sign Luis and, in no time, the defender was back in familiar surroundings.

“I didn’t want to work for Mourinho another year. But I tell you: it wasn’t just Mourinho’s fault. I just knew that with Cholo I’d be the old Filipe Luis again. Later he said: ‘See, you only play well for me; you had to come back to play well again.’ And it’s true. He knew every centimetre of my brain. I had no doubts about going back.”

The year spent in England gave Filipe an insight into the minds of some of the planet’s most talented players like Eden Hazard and Mo Salah.

“We had great players. Eden Hazard, Fabregas, Diego Costa. Alongside Neymar, Eden’s the best I’ve played with. He’s up there with Messi, winning games alone. He didn’t run to defend much, didn’t train well, and five minutes before games he’d be playing Mario Kart in the dressing room. He trained and warmed up laces untied. But he’d go out and no one could take the ball off him. Salah was immense in training, but he went to Fiorentina because he needed to play. He never went for money or to win more - he went to show he could play. In training he was like Messi. Really, like Messi. Ask anyone.”

Back in Madrid, he would spend four more seasons under El Cholo Simeone. He really wanted to lift the Champions League, the only major trophy he was missing in club football. Again, he came close with Atleti. Yet, so far. Real Madrid again. Penalty shoot-out. Heartbreak again.

“I prepared better for the second final. I never answered a single message! It came at the end of the best season of my life but we lost on penalties. I cried a lot after that game. Unlike two years earlier I had the feeling that there would not be another chance. But, mark my words: I will have another opportunity as a coach one day.”

At 35, Luis is still playing at a high level for Flamengo in Brazil (©Reuters)

His old clubs will meet in the Champions League tomorrow and Luis will be red and white.

“I’m supporting Atletico. It’s still my dream to see them win the Champions League.”