New Newell’s Old Boys manager Germán Burgos outlined his reasons for joining La Lepra in his first press conference.
Germán Burgos was presented as the new manager of Newell’s Old Boys on Thursday at the Jorge Griffa Training Centre.
Answering a number of questions from both the Argentine and Spanish media, the ex-Atlético Madrid coach said that he had chosen Newell’s due to the history of the club and it’s reputation for producing players like Lionel Messi along with managers like Marcelo Bielsa and Tata Martino.
He also added that Newell’s was special to him due to the fact that he made his professional debut against the club at El Coloso del Parque – a 1-0 win for Newell’s against Burgos’ Ferro in September 1989.
Burgos added that he was positively surprised by the standard of the Jorge Griffa Training Centre, commenting that it was like an “Olympic Village” and to the same standard as facilities used by clubs in Europe.
When questioned about club personnel, he said that “everyone who wears the club badge has the chance to play, and I already told the reserves and youth players this”.
Tactically, he said he was preparing two styles of play for Newell’s Old Boys that the players could switch between seamlessly. He said that he knew the club was in a complicated situation but that the players were going to play every game like a final, with bravery.
Experienced backroom team
Commenting on the coaches that he had brought in from Spain, Burgos said that Armando de la Morena had spent 17 years at Atlético Madrid and Professor Angel Puebla has been at Real Madrid with (Héctor) Cúper and Rafa Benitez.
“They are people with a lot of experience” added Burgos.
He was asked a number of questions by the Spanish media about his former colleague at Atlético Madrid, Diego Simeone, and the fortunes of his former team.
In response, the new Newell’s head coach predicted that Atlético would win La Liga and he also sent his best wishes to “Cholo” Simeone.
Gérman Burgos’ first test as Newell’s Old Boys manager comes on Friday night when La Lepra play Unión at home in the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.
