“Messi walks for 60 minutes and then scores a hat-trick, that’s his magic”

Kieran Trippier (35) begins a new adventure in English football this season, but in the second division (Championship) after signing an extendable two-season contract with the Wolverhamptonwhich hopes to help recover the lost category. Today, debut against Lincoln. The former Newcastle United and Atlético de Madrid full-back talks about that and more in an interview in ‘The Guardian’.

“I’m not ashamed to play in the Championship because I played there for many years,” he says, recalling his first experience in the division, when he was a teenager at Barnsley. “I had a good chat with Eddie Howe (Newcastle manager) and Ross Wilson (sporting director) and at the end of the season I decided I wanted to try something new. There were a few clubs interested, but for me it was important to be close to my children.”

Regarding the failure that England suffered in defense against Argentina in the World Cup, he explained that “I have been in that situation many times with Simeone; I could name 30 games in which he has done it and we have managed to get ahead, typical of Simeone. He is a master of tricks and of winning games. We were against one of the best players in history who can change everything in two seconds,” says Trippier about Lionel Messi. “I’ve played against him many times where he just walks for 60 minutes but then he can score a hat-trick on you. That’s his magic.”

About to turn 36, Trippier sees himself playing for years: “I feel good, probably in the best physical shape in recent years. I’m not as fast as before, but I’ve always believed that I’m smart and fast up here,” says Trippier, touching his temples. “I feel like I still have many years left in my career.”