Ahead of the 5th round of the Champions League group stage, where Atlético Madrid will host Inter Milan at home, Brazilian defender Miranda – who played for both clubs during his career – accepted an interview with camel.live, recalling his time at Atlético and Inter.
Are you still following football?
"Of course. I retired at 38 with no regrets. I won trophies with São Paulo and Atlético Madrid, and was captain of Brazil’s 2018 World Cup team. I hope to try my hand as an agent. Besides that, I’m focusing on my kids – they all play football."
How was the Miranda-Godín partnership?
"Unrivaled. To be honest, no one could match us back then. Even Ramos-Varane at Real Madrid or the BBC trio at Juventus – individual players might have been good, but as a unit, we were stronger. We were Simeone’s first soldiers, though that sounds a bit funny..."
Why do you say that?
"If I hadn’t been a footballer, I would have joined the military. With us at the back, no one could break through easily."
How did you end up at Atlético Madrid?
"I was a regular at São Paulo, and the team conceded very few goals. Lazio and Milan were also interested, but Atlético presented a project, and I signed six months in advance."
What was the early Simeone like?
"Exactly as you see him now. He would gather us in the middle of the pitch and say: ‘If you’re the best player on the field, winning or losing doesn’t matter.’ Even so, when we lost, it felt like saying goodbye to a loved one at a funeral. He gave us hunger and fighting spirit."
Can you describe his style?
"I remember him on the sidelines: always dressed in black, full of passion. He’s one person on the pitch, another off it. When we met in Madrid – for dinner, say – he would hug everyone and joke around, but in training, he was extremely strict. An hour and a half of high-intensity training; if you didn’t give your all, he would criticize you."
Was your Atlético team stronger or the current one?
"Technically, the current Atlético is stronger. We laid the foundation for Atlético – me, Godín, Courtois, Juanfran, Falcao, and Diego Costa. The current team has not only fighting spirit and hunger, but also quality. I like technical players like Raspadori; he can add something to Simeone’s attack."
Simeone has always been regarded as a "defensive master."
"Please tear off these labels and watch the games. We’ve heard all kinds of comments over the years, but the most important thing is that we won five trophies together, from La Liga to the Europa League."
Talk about Inter Milan.
"When I first arrived at Inter, one of Mancini’s assistants told me I needed to improve my defensive game. I was a bit surprised, considering I had already achieved something... but he was right. Serie A made me a more complete player."
In 2018, you said: "I’m the best defender in Serie A.""Of course I was the best – my career speaks for itself."
Would you play for Inter or Atlético today?
"Yes. The best version of Miranda would be a regular in both teams. Inter has three very good center-backs, but I like Bastoni the most. He’s fast, technical, and similar to me."
Could you have achieved more at Inter?
"Overall, I think yes. I was a regular under Mancini, De Boer, and Pioli, but then Spalletti arrived – he’s an intimidating person."
Why intimidating?
"As a coach, he’s a winner. He led Inter back to the Champions League and laid the foundation for the future, but as a person... let’s not talk about it. He’s the worst coach I’ve ever met in Italy. Mancini is a gentleman, De Boer wasn’t understood, but Spalletti is afraid of people going against him, and you’ll find very few players get along well with him."
In 2019, Spalletti stripped Icardi of the captaincy.
"That was a personal issue. That’s just how Spalletti is; I don’t think he’s fully focused on the team. Once he targets you, it’s over. Despite what Wanda said, Icardi was always professional and scored a lot of goals."
What’s your biggest regret at Inter?
"Not winning a trophy."
What do you think of Lautaro?
"He’s one of the top five strikers in the world. He has strength and technique, and can score at any moment."
How will the Atlético vs Inter game end?
"It might be a draw. I have a slight preference for Atlético, but my four years in Italy were also wonderful."
Will Simeone leave Atlético?
"I hope he becomes Atlético’s Ferguson."
