Diego Pablo Simeone addressed the press in the preview of the match between Atlético against Valencia (tomorrow, 9:00 p.m.). Cholo appreciated the figure of Suárez, indicated that João Félix's substitutions did not suffer physical problems and praised the internal competence of the team.
They have scored eleven goals in the last 15 minutes.
They are numbers. The team competes trying to win the game for 90 minutes. And during these minutes there is a part where we end up solving on the end, I see that they are numbers, nothing more.
Have the substitutions for João Félix been due to the blow in Cornellà?
In the Cup match he suffered a blow. We did not play against Athletic and against Sevilla I no longer had the blow. We are looking for what best suits the team, the footballers have names and we are looking for what names are best for the game we are going to play and always to empower the team.
Is Héctor Herrera recovered?
Since December 12 against Real Madrid he has been recovering. He is much better than the previous week and will surely be available for this game. In terms of ownership, there is very good and healthy competition for the position of the three places in the middle and that suits the team well.
What happens to João Félix?
You seek to focus the issue on a footballer. The players have good, very good, extraordinary and other irregular moments. As coaches we look for the best moment of each of the footballers that we have. We need João, when he is at his best, he is unbalancing, different, with situations to define above and we need him in that version. That is what we seek in training and in the games that he plays.
If Hermoso does not arrive, do you plan to go back to four?
The Eibar game involved many centers, aerial game, almost always they put two forwards, although the other day they tried to change and disorganize us, they did very well in the first half and Lodi is also an important option for the team if Mario is not there for to be able to play, we can put four back as we have done a lot of times. Valencia, by numbers, feel better outside than at home, they make very good counterattacks, they attack space very well and we imagine a match with this scenario.
How do you see Kondogbia?
All the footballers who are working want to play. I feel and see in the players the desire to play. Unfortunately we left a tournament like the Cup that allowed us to give more minutes to everyone, that was shortened. In this period there is only one game per week and obviously the competition is very big. They are all very good footballers and then it will be up to the coach to find what will generate better for the next game and we will behave accordingly.
We are seeing little Lodi, is it because of the system or because of his moment of form?
The system has now generated him competing more with Carrasco than with Hermoso. But within his will, his enthusiasm, at no time did he create any uncomfortable situation. Last year he played almost always and football is changeable. There are the moments, the competition, the players that are best suited and you have to choose one. It is very difficult for everyone to play.
Was Suárez what Atlético lacked? Did you expect their performance?
Since I spoke on the phone with Luis, I have found what he transmits. Illusion, hunger, rebellion, desire to show that he is current and the team is accompanying him to show his best version, which is the goal, which has marked him his entire career.