MADRID, 10 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Atlético de Madrid, Diego Pablo Simeone, has assured that French striker Antoine Griezmann is “important despite the load of games” he has, and has warned of the danger of Sevilla, who will arrive “with enthusiasm” for the match. this Sunday at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán after winning in Vallecas.
“I always see Griezmann very well. He is a player who gives us a lot of things all the time. In these last games he has played very often, we left him out with Rayo. He manages himself very well on the field. Let's hope he achieves , as he always does, to be important despite all this load of games,” he declared at a press conference.
In addition, he spoke about the status of Álvaro Morata and José María Giménez. “José, in principle, next week he would be working with the group. We hope to be able to get him back, we need him, he is a very important player for our defense. Álvaro is fine, today he trained normally, and we hope he can be fresh and well” , he expressed.
After falling in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals against Athletic (0-1), the Argentine coach assured that they are focusing on LaLiga. “I'm focusing on the Seville game and leaving the Cup game for when it's time,” he said. “You never live on the previous game to prepare for the next one, that's what happens to me. What we are looking for is to think about the new game, about the enthusiasm that Sevilla will have after the victory in Vallecas, and playing in their home, with their people. They have recovered some important players like Acuña, En-Nesyri and Navas, who make the team better. Tomorrow we will have a tough game,” he analyzed.
In addition, he stressed that he sees the team physically in good shape despite the last result. “Many times we think that when the team does not respond it is because it is physically bad, but there are a thousand factors that are not physical, that are emotional or mental, that are internal strength and that make you repeat efforts. They are people and they have some moments of weakness, we also as coaches, sometimes we make a mistake in a formation or in a change. We have to try to live with the bad moment; the better you are in the bad moment, the stronger you are,” he stressed.
“It is a billion times better to be a player. You play, you only think about the game you have to play, about what the team asks of you… We, as coaches, have to try to manage everything and be continually strong to transmit security and conviction. It is not easy to stabilize it, but we work to find it,” he added.
Regarding Real Madrid-Girona, 'Cholo' did not want to reveal what result he prefers to happen. “We need to think about ourselves. Everything that happens, from the moment it happens, will surely be good,” he said, before also refusing to talk about the possible introduction of the blue card. “I'm not going to wear myself out in this situation because it will end in nothing,” he concluded.