Simeone: “Costa and Morata are close to being able to play together”

What does Llorente have?

He said it was generally loaded. Tomorrow (Friday) you will be informed more precisely of what is happening to you.

What summary do you make of the match?

About the game, we knew that we had an opponent who was going to put pressure on us, that was going to create difficulties for us. We do not go well the first 15-20 minutes. We had little pressure, little intensity in order to have a better transition to damage them. In the 20-25 minute we realized that we could associate and find passes that caused us situations to do harm. At the break we told them that the defense-attack transition had to be found. The second half we were much more regular, much more intense. Very well the changes how they entered the game. Also very well the way to hold the advantage. We took a victory that we wanted and to continue improving.

With what they have suffered, is it a warning to the Champions that you don't win without working?

We have it clear. We were talking about it, we worked on it. It is not easy to sustain all the games for 90 minutes. In the return of the quarantine, except for a section of the game with Betis and the start of today, in the rest the team has had responsibility, work, speed, intensity and the intention to press well.

What merit does it give you to be third after so many changes this season?

Being in the top four is a responsibility and a necessity for the club to continue growing. Beyond all the changes that occurred and that occur in all teams when important footballers are renewed. For example, in defense we have played many days with three that were not in previous years. Little by little, although we have had difficult moments, I think that the team achieved a lot of predisposition from the victory in Liverpool and the work prior to the return. There was improvement in pressure, in positioning, in sustaining the attack. The emergence and improvement of Carrasco allows us to have much more speed. The absolute emergence of Llorente allows us to have alternatives that we did not previously have in that position. The presence of Costa, who was the player we went to look for and who we need, Morata's goals, Vitolo's insistence when he enters, Manu Sánchez's competition, that we were able to give him matches and today, in a tough match, has shown which can be a good replacement. All this generates the moment we are having thanks to his effort.

Do you think Real Madrid has been the best team this season?

Yes, definitely. The champion is always the best. He reinforced it in the absolute forcefulness of these ten days. Congratulate them because when you win ten games, there is nothing to say.

If Llorente played for United, would you sign him as a second striker?

He does not play for United, nor did he play as a striker. The acceptance of his physical strength and danger as an assistant or as a man who can have a goal generated this healthy and good irruption that he has. He is a boy that nobody has given him anything and he is gaining day by day and game by game the situation he has within the team. This makes me happy because this generates more competition, since when they are all gives us possibilities to use them according to the needs of the team according to the characteristics we have.

Do you think Costa has come at the best time?

He has gone through different situations that did not leave him with the possibility of expressing himself in the best way. When the championship stopped he was struggling because he was not in good shape and prepared to play. It is a complex issue for a coach because we have Morata and Costa and whoever is left out will get angry, but the one who wins is the team and that is the most important thing. It is our job to find out which game is better for one or the other or that they can play together, like today we put them for a while and they are getting closer to being able to play together.