Cholo: “In the bad results it is necessary to transmit tranquility”

Diego Pablo Simeone appeared before the media of communication in a telematic way in the previous match between Atlético de Madrid and Celta de Vigo corresponding to matchday 25 of LaLiga Santander 2021-22.

-What game do you expect tomorrow from Atleti against Celta after United?: “Our intention is to continue evolving as the team has been doing since these two games. Regularity to keep the game stable is what we want and that’s what we’re doing”.

-Is your team freer mentally after the victories against Osasuna and Manchester United?: “Always, having good behaviors on the field and when generating the game that one wants to play, as happened in these last two games, generates solidity, confidence and in that search, to feed that emotional part, we are. Tomorrow we face a rival who plays very well, who positions himself very well to generate play and continuous attack and I don’t expect anything other than a tough rival with long possessions”.

-Is this LaLiga more difficult, with more competition than you have experienced at Atlético, to get into the top four?: “After we were champions in 2014, we competed until the end against Valencia and Sevilla and we ended up qualifying in the last game against Granada. It’s always complicated. In LaLiga all the teams play very well, they have all gone to more and better the competitors that we always have, but the most important thing is to improve ourselves. We think about ourselves, in these 13 games that we have left in LaLiga out of 14 that we started last week”

-The influence of the meetings in the previous ones that they have had these days before these matches: “I always believe that, in moments of difficulty and when the results are not the desired ones, security, forcefulness and transmitting calm are needed. We felt that these last few days and, from this, the team started and is starting to grow”.

-The meeting with Berta and Gil Marín, of which you yourself spoke in the press room, to what extent can it be a turning point for change?: “We will see it as LaLiga progresses and, when we are finishing this one, if we can stand out yes or no”.

-The value of soccer within a world situation with which we are living, with the war: “I feel very sad because, in today’s times, it is very difficult to understand that we are remembering distant times of war. We need peace, we want peace and we all fight to have it in the world. Football has nothing to do with what is happening and hopefully we can have peace of mind”.

-How does a team with a crisis of results face competing Wednesday-Saturday without being able to train? How do you get better? Playing every three days or training?: “It gets better both ways. Training when you have a long week or playing because the game is a stimulus. We come from making a very big effort. With many guys with important kilometers in the match, tomorrow, match day, we will decide in the morning, with whom we will start and they can carry it forward”.