Saturday 28 June 2014

Scolari: Brazil can learn a lot from Atletico Madrid

Scolari: Brazil can learn a lot from Atletico Madrid
Luiz Felipe Scolari has acknowledged that Brazil can learn a lot from the way Atletico Madrid played in La Liga and the Champions League last season.

Los Rojiblancos enjoyed an excellent campaign last term, finishing as Champions League runners up and winning the Spanish title for the first time since 1996 following a dramatic final-day draw with Barcelona.



With Brazil preparing to face Chile in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, Scolari acknowledged his admiration for Atletico's style of play, agreeing with comments made by Thiago Silva prior to the tournament that Atleti's solid defence and brutal counterttack are examples to follow.

"We play under the team we have and the philosophy of the coach, which is what is passed to the players," the 65-year-old told AS.

"Thiago Silva said Atletico Madrid is an organized team, capable of defending, closing spaces and also has a goal threat and can play on the counterattack. It's not for nothing that they've been league champions and runners-up in the Champions League. We can learn much from them. Not a bad example."

Brazil have high expectations of going far in this World Cup and potentially lifting the trophy for a sixth time, but Scolari insisted that, though his side could cope with the pressure, they would not underestimate their opponents.

"The level of Chile has improved since the arrival of [Jorge] Sampaoli," he continued. "The players have improved and offer better performance than before his arrival.

"Yes, we are different [from the group stages], we can have more anxiety and now we cannot make mistakes. Sometimes we are more worried or nervous and that's normal - not just for being in Brazil, but because each phase brings you closer to the final.

"I have lots of experience in knockout stages. The key is to respect the potential of Chile and also value our own. We have the ability to beat them."

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