MADRID, 11 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Atlético de Madrid, Diego Pablo Simeone, described as “very difficult” the fact of “maintaining for 90 minutes” the rhythm and image of the first 70, in reference to the outcome of the first leg of the quarterfinals in the League. of Champions, against a Borussia Dortmund that almost tied 2-1, which for now gives the Colchoneros an advantage.
“Maintaining for 90 minutes what was done in 70… is very difficult. And it is normal to find in the Champions League a rival that generates what it generates. It is clear that the changes renewed Dortmund with many people on the outside,” he said Simeone this Wednesday from the Cívitas Metropolitano.
Thus, ‘Cholo’ was cautious about this triumph. “I am left with the feeling of having won the first game, which is very important. We played a very good game, I think, the boys played 65-70 minutes with important pace and control, and then we had two other chances to mark,” he recalled during the press conference.
“Just after 2-0, Griezmann’s pass to Morata; plus Lino’s, in which the goalkeeper made an incredible save. But it is also true that they could have equalized with the header at the end. In that scenario We were fortunate not to receive the equalizer,” Simeone added about Julian Brandt’s last shot on the crossbar.
“Looking at the four quarter-finals, we see that it is not easy to win. We are happy to have won ours and we know that now we are going to a field where it is going to be difficult, against a team that plays well. Today with the changes Dortmund put fresh people on the wings and very tall people in all sectors of the field,” insisted the Argentine coach.
On the other hand, he defended Álvaro Morata despite his lack of aim. “Álvaro had, from July to January, six impressive months; and today he is going through a more difficult moment because he is not finding the goal. But he is working for what the team needs; and based on working on that, the goal will come,” ‘Cholo’ commented in the press room.
“When I win, I’m happy. It gives me a good feeling when the team plays like it played today, it makes me happy,” he repeated before highlighting the 10 days that have passed since the league match against Villarreal. “It had been a long time since we were playing, but today when we started we put a lot of pressure, we stole the ball a lot and forced the opponent not to have any scoring opportunities from the game in the first half,” he stressed.
He also praised Samu Lino. “He is growing game by game, he is working enormously, he has spectacular physical conditions and we need to demand that he have more goals because he has it, because we are going to work on it and because he is going to get it,” he argued.
Finally, Simeone highlighted “the joy” of “being able to compete in these two competitions at this moment.” “That generates a double effort and continuous creativity. We try to prepare each season waiting for these things to happen,” Simeone finally admitted.