Simeone: “We come from a period from fair to bad, in the League we needed to win”

MADRID, 30 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Atlético de Madrid coach, Diego Pablo Simeone, was happy this Thursday after his team’s 2-0 victory over Elche at the Civitas Metropolitano, while acknowledging that after coming off a run of “regular to bad ” in the League they needed to “win”.

“The players showed intensity. We come from a regular to bad stage and in the league we absolutely needed to win. What we also need is for us to be together on all fours. Here we are all involved at the same table, managers, players, coaching staff and footballers”, acknowledged the coach at a press conference.

Asked about the situation of Joao Félix, the Argentine coach praised the good game of the Portuguese, but did not want to talk about his future. “I keep commenting on the same thing. I’m putting pressure on the players who are with me, trying to squeeze them to get the best out of the club. After what has to happen happens, it doesn’t depend on me. It’s clear that today Joao with Morata and Griezmann He played very well,” he said.

As for the proper names of the game, the ‘Cholo’ highlighted youth squad player Pablo Barrios, who today played as a starter for the Metropolitano. “He’s a boy who plays without fear, with personality and sacrifice. We’ve been seeing him for a long time and the boy is in very good condition. We don’t want to rush him, everything went perfect in this game, but he will surely have things to improve. I hope he maintains that humility that he has,” he said.

Finally, the coach explained his decision to put Mario Hermoso on the left wing instead of Reinildo. “We have spoken with Reinildo. After being the best defender in recent games, I decided that after the start of this post-World Cup stage, in addition to the game against Arenteiro and today, that I wanted to put Mario Hermosos. Beyond the expulsion made a game from correct to very good”, he concluded.