One of the Premier League's most in-form stars has revealed that his former head coach Diego Simeone told him the only way you can stop Lionel Messi is by praying.
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In July 2019, Kieran Trippier shocked the football fraternity when he ditched the Premier League to join Simeone's Atletico Madrid in Spain.
Known for his pragmatism and his highly defensive tactics, the Argentine tactician managed to help the 32-year-old secure his only piece of silverware to date by winning the 2020/21 LaLiga title.
The Bury native, who spent three years in the Spanish capital before returning to England, has now revealed that even the defensively astute Simeone had no tangible plan to stop seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, claiming that he told him to leave it to God.
"You can't, to be fair," the Newcastle United captain told Goal when asked how he prepared to stop the former Barcelona man.
"It's funny because obviously Simeone was the manager [and] they are both Argentinian.
"Even he would say before the meetings, just basically 'pray'.
"You just can't do anything. You can't organise or set up to stop him because he's that unique."
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Not many top English talents leave the comfort of their nation's top flight, with Trippier being one of few exceptions in recent season, but he has encouraged more players to explore the possibility.
"Hopefully many more English players do it because I learned so much experience playing out there with Simeone," he added.
"I learned a lot about myself as well. Go out and enjoy the game, go and enjoy the life out in Spain, the food, the weather.
"It was an incredible couple of years."
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