In a recent interview, Spanish soccer legend David Villa not only looked back on his time playing for Atletico Madrid, but also gave his thoughts on current hot topics in the soccer world. Speaking about the contrast between Atletico Madrid's present and past, Villa did not mince words in praising the strength of the current squad, arguing that today's Atletico Madrid is superior to the one he played for in terms of the quality of its players and the depth of its squad.
Villa made special mention of Koke and Jimenez, both current and former players, and spoke highly of Simeone's coaching ability as an excellent coach and leader. Villa expressed his dissatisfaction with Atletico being labeled as a "defensive team" in the past, emphasizing that the game should not be categorized simply, and pointed out that the Atletico team was solid in defense, but also possessed excellent attacking ability, and eventually won the La Liga title.
Speaking about the candidates for the Ballon d'Or, Villa expressed his support for Rodri and Carvajal, believing that both of them, Spanish internationals, have what it takes to win the honor. He also spoke about the potential of young players such as Yamal, but emphasized that it would be inappropriate to compare anyone to Messi, who is a unique presence.
In addition, Villa also expressed his concern about the current situation of Valencia. He believes that Valencia's start to the season has not been ideal, and despite having faith in manager Baraja, he still hopes that the team will be able to get out of the predicament as soon as possible. Speaking about the management of Valencia's owner Lin Yongfu, Villa said that he does not know the specifics, but he emphasized that whoever is in charge of the club should have Valencia's interests at heart and maintain the team's tradition and competitiveness.
