Simeone attended the media by videoconference to analyze the Osasuna-Atlético preview on Wednesday (22:00), before the team's last training session before the match.
What game do you expect tomorrow against Osasuna?
He is doing an interesting season, with very high peaks during it, and in this beginning he already showed what he will try to do, what he did in Anoeta against a very good team. He competed in the first half at a very strong level. In their field they will try to repeat that situation. They have changed the system, that they had already used it once, and the coach will decide if he will play like that again tomorrow …
What happens to Atlético away from home?
Soccer is very clear in consequence of the forcefulness. The forcefulness generates you to be able to be better in the different parties that appear in the same party. You have to work on that, on being forceful, to coexist better in these games.
How is João Félix?
He had started these workouts very well, but then he had to go out due to a knee problem and now he is working with the same enthusiasm. Now we will assess how it is, we will do a couple of tests and based on this we will decide what is best for tomorrow. What it has to do? What he has done in other games, against Villarreal, Liverpool … He did a great preseason, a very good start, then he had an injury, it was difficult for him to return because of the rhythm and the association with his teammates … And then it started to be the one from the beginning. He is a young boy, normal that this happens to him during the season, but we have the illusion that it is very important from here to the end.
Other coaches have complained about the schedules …
What do we have to gain if I do it? I do not mediate another situation because there is no solution. What we have to do is win.
Can Gabi return to Atlético and take the place of Burgos?
We already talked about Germán and we wish Gabi the best in everything she sets out to do. He knows well that at the moment the only thing that concerns us is Osasuna's party.
How is Diego Costa?
We have two very important forwards like Diego and Álvaro. I absolutely trust them both, although they have different characteristics. Morata is more positional, area and Costa works looking for places in different places, but both, when they are at a good level, are tremendously important for the team and I do not expect anything else from them. It is normal that they go from less to more, we will see tomorrow who starts and I hope what they have always had, forcefulness and goal.
Protocol if the League stops again.
I am very respectful of all those who are working to find solutions to something new that has happened to the world: giving opinions from here without having influence does not count for much.
Direct balls in San Mamés.
We can not stop commenting on what was seen in the game. Until the 14th or 15th minute, many interesting things, such as Carrasco's move; then a disconnection from associative play and movement, little appearance from the sides, little support from the ball by the forwards and Athletic positioned itself, attacked, had the possibility of a goal…. The other best thing about the team was our reaction to his goal. Then, in the second part, we were already better in the combination, with Carrasco, with Lodi attacking until the end … We will try to improve everything, after three months without competing.
Champions to a match in neutral headquarters.
Right now I have my head in Osasuna, honestly.
Héctor Herrera.
He is working very well, he has a competitive level that tells the coach “I want to play.” It will, we need to have everyone. It was not that he lost the place, but that others like Llorente grew and occupied the space. From here to the end we will need everyone to reach the goal we want.
Thomas.
Due to the characteristics of the media, Thomas is the one who best understands this position of translation and transition from defense to attack with shot and finish, assists and passes between the lines. When he is level with continuity, it is so important that the best teams in Europe look for him.