Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli was officially presented this Saturday as the new manager of Atlético Mineiro, a club he returns to after his first spell between 2020 and 2021. In a press conference at the Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte, the coach made it clear that his style has not changed: he remains committed to ball possession, though now with greater maturity to handle the modern challenges of football.

Possession, his non-negotiable trademark

Sampaoli’s new contract ties him to Atlético Mineiro until December 2027, a two-and-a-half-season project. From the moment of his presentation, he underlined the foundation of his philosophy: “My feeling is to take the lead through possession. Few passes in our own half, and many passes in the opposition’s half, because being closer to their goal brings you closer to winning games.”

The former coach of both the Argentina and Chile national teams stated that he will rotate players regularly to keep them fresh given the demanding schedule. “Those who are in the best condition for each competition will play,” he said.

He also stressed that, despite the years, his essence remains unchanged: “I have the same enthusiasm, the same idea, and the same style,” though he admitted that now he has more experience to deal with a footballing context that, in his view, is dominated by individualism.

More experience and maximum demands

On his return to the alvinegro club, Sampaoli acknowledged that managing the dressing room today is different from five years ago. “Managing human beings today is not the same as before. Building a team in the midst of the individualism that exists in society is even more complicated,” he explained.

Asked about criticism of his character, the coach was clear: his demands are just as high on himself as on his players. “Some like it and others don’t, but the life of a coach is immediate pressure to win. Today football doesn’t allow for distractions, the demands are enormous,” he warned.

With the pressure to reverse the team’s poor run, Jorge Sampaoli begins a new cycle at Atlético Mineiro with the mission of bringing the club back to the top of Brazilian football. His possession-based style, his obsession with taking the initiative, and his relentless demands will define a project that promises intensity and controversy in equal measure.