Diego Pablo Simeone attended the press in the preview of the match against Valencia. The team will have to adapt to playing without a ram up until Suárez does not return. El Cholo announced that Kondogbia “has many options to play tomorrow.”
How are Suárez and Costa?
Luis is in the process of recovery, he will have little left to be with us and the doctor will explain Costa's injury in the best way. We need him and he is very important to us because of what he always gives us in the dressing room and what he can give us on the field.
Have you seen the images of Maradona's farewell?
With Diego I am left with the athlete who I was lucky enough to be able to play with him, where he always knew everything, he knew all the footballers and the teams' formations, he was brilliant. We grew up with eight or nine years old and I was already playing in the first division. We all had the illusion of being Maradona. His loss caused enormous pain to a country that identifies with a man who gave us emotions that surpass anything that has happened to us, from the sporting point of view. It will have a huge place for us in the history of Argentina.
Is Atlético obliged to play the League?
Every day that we meet we have done many conferences and each one has their opinions and questions, it is normal for them to ask what they feel. On my side I only think game by game, the most important thing we have ahead of us is this and what will lead us to the objectives is to focus on game by game, we are not going to get out of that situation knowing that tomorrow's rival is coming. growing up and it will be a tough game as always in the Valencia field.
With injuries, coronavirus cases … Worried about the template getting short?
With all these circumstances, you would have to have a squad of 35 players. Everything is tight and they are circumstances that we have to assume to continue competing in the best way. I can think I'm going to take care of a player for two games, he catches coronavirus and I lost him the game that I made him rest. You have to go game by game, trying to get the best and play with the changes, there are five changes and the quality of minutes is more important than ownership, that allows us to be competitive throughout the game.
Does it bother you to be given favorites?
I cannot put myself to value what the critic thinks. If I do, at times we are a ten and at times a one. We need a balance that we can find at work, in dedication, trying to improve, continuing to generate good energy and following the path we are on.
What options are raised above without Suárez or Costa? Do you have Saponjic?
I had several talks with Saponjic during the past season and at the beginning of this one telling him what I think. That is not to say that you do not have the opportunity to participate while you are here. Suárez and Costa are not there, Camello has less characteristics of a pure finisher, due to stature and experience, but the team generates chances. We must empower those we have, who are those who are playing assiduously to try to define the game.
What Valencia awaits?
They have a very good coach, a lot of young people and there is an important change in the squad. He needs time to work on an idea, but I see a lot of enthusiasm, energy, speed and a midfield team going forward with a lot of danger.
He alternates between Lodi and Hermoso, what do they give him?
They can both play in the same game. Mario is giving us many more things this season because he can play more often and that generates more security, confidence, we can count on him as a full back or as a center back and Lodi continues in his daily growth, a selection player with a lot of verticality.
How concerned are you with Costa? Have these days cost you emotionally?
No, because I am concerned with seeing how good I have and since I have important footballers, I believe that we can continue to respond to situations that one cannot imagine all together but knows that they can happen. Selection, consecutive matches, Champions, more selection matches … these are situations that at the start of the season they know that there are going to be complex moments. We absolutely trust the people who have put together the group to move forward.
How do you see Kondogbia? Can you be a starter?
He has a good chance of playing tomorrow. He has been growing a lot in training and we need him to be at a high intensity. It is very big and you need a very good physical condition. He was stopped for a while before coming and soon he was meeting the footballer we went looking for.
Carrasco is being very important.
I am very happy with everything he is giving us. Its application to what the team needs, the talent, speed, the offensive game we know it has. He has grown in football maturity and that puts him in an important place in the squad.