Nikita Simonyan: "Let it stays in the history that it was Nikita who injured Pele"

The vice president of Russian football federation and the legend of FC Ararat Nikita Simonyan has spoken out on his warm relationship with Pele in an interview with Sovetski Sport. Did the Brazilians with Pele among them impress in 1985? “They were stronger both as a squad and with their 4-2-4 formation. After the match with the Brazilians in the group, we wondered how they played. It was something new that we weren’t used to. Only Pele could beat us.” Are you friends with Pele? “We met last year when he visited the World Cup in Moscow. Unfortunately, in a wheelchair, he had some kind of operation, either he broke his neck, or something else. It's very pity.” “Pele is used to remind me about something. He thinks that in 1958 it was me who injured him. But how it can be possible in case when I was playing on the opponent’s midfield while he was playing on ours. Anyway, let it remains in the history that it was me who injured him. “Generally he is a very good man and simple.” Did you see 'the king of football' in him in 1958? “Of course. He was honored from God. But Garrincha was also shining in the match with us. What was he doing… You mentioned 'The king of football' but in Brazil they still wonder who is greater Garincha or Pele. But in the World the question is different: Pele or Diego Maradona? “For me it’s definitely Pele. Maradona is great, also Johan Cruyff, Ferenc Puskas. But it was Pele who won the World Cup for three times.”

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