Speaking to The Telegraph, Simao said: “Honestly, I’ve never felt that he struggled to control his nerves.
“At the beginning of his career, he was very emotional – he would explode a lot, but not in a bad way, not with the players, but in the heat of the moment and all that. But I’ve always thought he had a strong mental and psychological foundation. And that’s why I’ve always said that his communication skills are incredible. He knows every moment of the game, he knows how to get into the player’s head and win the group’s trust.”
“He’s so strict that on the day I missed a training session, I was done – I wouldn’t play under him again. The only reason why I wasn’t let go was because the other players changed his mind. Then I had a chat with him and explained everything, but in his strictness, regardless of the degree of friendship, regardless of where I had played or whatever, for him, there are no names, no data, no status. Everyone is equal."