Simeone, Atlético coach, He spoke to the media about Sevilla's visit this Tuesday and how the storm Filomena is affecting the team in their day-to-day lives, after preventing them from playing against Athletic and training normally in recent days.
Would it have been advisable to suspend more games in these circumstances?
I am in favor of the fact that each one has responsibilities from where they are called, ours as a coach is to prepare the team in the circumstances that affect us to carry out the competition, we all try with the best intention and we must make decisions, each one from their own place. From the outside it is easy to give an opinion, but you have to be there. We have to train footballers and give thanks because, with everything that happens in the world, what happens to us is minimal.
How does the team get to the game?
Sevilla is coming from competing, with a very good pace of play, they looked very good in the last game. They always compete and play very well, they take advantage of their positional play, eliminating rivals to break down the wings, people who arrive in the second row, very good game in the middle … They have been competing better and better for years.
How have the last hours been at Atlético?
With the difficulties that all the people had in their homes. We had no option of getting together or leaving the house. We work at home on Saturday, on Sunday a group was able to train together… There are no excuses, they are circumstances to which we have to adapt. The most important thing will be tomorrow and the above will not matter in the criticism and opinion that we receive.
How do you prepare a match with just one training session?
There will be two sessions, because tomorrow we will do another at noon to finish fine-tuning what to do, taking advantage of the fact that the game is at night
How is the Metropolitan's lawn?
Very well. He looks very good, with a normal state to be able to compete and surely there will be no difficulties with the field.
How do you see Trippier?
He's very good, eager to play, hooked as always. Sime (Vrsaljko) is also competing very well with other characteristics and tomorrow we will decide.
How do you rate the arrival of Dembélé?
It is not yet confirmed, yes very advanced. I'm going to show myself for the game that interests me tomorrow and when I am, if I am, I will give my opinion.
How was the arrival at the stadium today?
No anecdotes, but the need to have creativity to get together and train. Great job from the field employees to make it available. We were coming in the trucks that have brought us, because the important roads are fine, but in Madrid and in the urbanizations there are difficulties and we have to find a way to get to the meeting point… Luckily we were able to train.
Zidane regretted the state of grass in Pamplona. Are you afraid that you too have strange feelings about the game?
I was not in the place of the coach who gave his opinion, so I cannot feel about what he said. Tomorrow it will be cold, the field will be getting not so good and there is not much else.
What do you think of Lopetegui and his work?
I congratulate you on your renovation. He's doing a very good job, with a defined style that makes the team feel comfortable. He has always been like that as a coach in the teams where he has been. I like Sevilla, they always have a special, competitive character, they have strengthened very well as they always do and they have important players and a very complete squad. They will compete until the end to win the League.
How do you see this leadership with three fewer days?
Seville.