Simeone: “Correa has found the peace that a scorer needs”

Diego Pablo Simeoncoach of Atlético, analyzed before the media how Atlético-Manchester United will face this Wednesday (9:00 p.m.).

There is a lot of talk about things not going the way they should. In these situations, do you prefer to isolate yourself or share your doubts with the players?

Find balance, which is the best in this type of situation, like everything in life

The extra value of away goals is removed. That changes?

No, it won’t change much the approaches of any coach, but it is fairer in the final result.

Both teams arrive with a streak full of doubts. What will be the key to the tie?

We are going to face one of the best teams in the world. In the last 14 games, if I read correctly, they have only lost one. The new coach has given them solidity, teamwork, commitment and they see a team like Manchester has always been. It is fourth, the team has evolved and the coach has marked the group. Very brave, with good footballers and collectively they try to make an effort to gather that talent in the team. The game will be tough, difficult, like all the Champions League games, but with the hope of being with our people and being able to play, this year yes, at home.

What do you hold onto to think that they can go far in the Champions League?

To the day to day, to the daily growth. The other day I saw a great spirit within the team. It is not necessary to express it with words, but it is seen. Hopefully we will have it again, because that way we always compete very well.

Koke stays out. How will she fix it?

We have the return of Lemar, which is very important. Carrasco and Koke are missing. We have a team where many teammates want to play and want to take advantage of the opportunity. That excites me. We hope to play an important game.

Do you feel that Atleti is more respected?

I look at the day to day, you are here to value our work. Stopping to look at what we are doing does not make sense, because what you did well is not valid for tomorrow. Only match by match counts.

What is United’s vulnerability?

I see it more compact, stronger. Physically very strong. It is difficult to find places where they have errors. We work based on the best they can have.

How has Correa changed?

Ángel always had scoring situations. He has played a lot on the wing, as fourth from the right. Always claiming that his position was forward, but we lived with important teammates and the possibility of not losing him was to accommodate him in the band, because he does different things and has a huge heart. He has improved in the tranquility to resolve scoring situations. He is having the peace that a striker needs at the moment of the goal.

And do you have enough peace to manage Atlético?

Yes.

Have João and Correa earned themselves tomorrow’s headlines?

I’m not talking about rights. I’m talking about moments, games, Luis played a very good game, an extraordinary goal. There are these three strikers and the entry of Griezmann, who we need, for hierarchy, goal and work capacity. Any one of them four can play. I hope they have the lucidity of the other day, that the three scored.

What does the locker room say so that it does not deviate?

The players are well aware of the game ahead of us and the 13-day competition we have left in the League. There is no need to comment much more. It will go well or badly for us, it’s football, but the boys are going to leave everything.

You see the faces with Cristiano…

He is a monster, an extraordinary footballer and he has been decisive wherever he has been. He obviously has hurt us a lot whenever he has played with us. He has a team that accompanies him that is very good, United is a history of world football.

What is talked about in the locker room about the future and the rumours?

In the locker room we talk about so many things that I don’t even remember what we talked about anymore. We are not responding like last season, but we have many games left and we want to finish in the best way.