MADRID, 27 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid manager Diego Pablo Simeone said on Tuesday that it was “impossible” for Atlético fans to “ask” him for “more” this season than he asks of himself, in reference to the high-profile signings the club has made this summer, such as striker Julián Álvarez and midfielder Conor Gallagher.
“More than what I ask for, it’s impossible for them to ask me for it,” answered ‘Cholo’ Simeone bluntly when asked at a press conference about the demands for this 2024/25 season. Not in vain, Atlético has signed several players in recent weeks to reinforce all its lines, such as for example with the Argentine goalkeeper Juan Musso.
“Juan has been working very well in Italy, at Atalanta, where he obviously responded very well when he was called upon to play. We are thinking of him coming to compete with Oblak and in that way we will see what happens as the season progresses,” argued the Atlético coach.
Regarding other signings before the end of the summer transfer window, Simeone said that “there may be some more possibilities.” “It will be a consequence of what we talk about in these last few days with Andrea.” [Berta] and Carlos [Bucero]above all, and from there they will find out in these days that they are left,” warned ‘Cholo’.
“I think the squad we are putting together is doing well. I don’t value all these words you can say before the season, because in reality it will be what happens; what we imagine and how we always imagine, maybe, obviously there is no room for anything. So what we will value as we go along is how we will respond to the good squad block that has been generated up to today,” said Simeone about the new arrivals.
He then explained that the ‘DNA of Atleti’ is “everything that a lot of important footballers who spent time at the club represented, like Gabi, like Torres…” “A thousand players come to mind. Like Godín, like Griezmann, like Koke, etc. I think it is represented in many footballers and I think that everyone understands it quickly,” he warned.
Simeone also gave his opinion on how he deals with the hydration breaks in each match, knowing that they are broadcast live on television. “I see it as part of the possibility for the opposing coach to hear what you are talking about with the others during those 30 seconds of the break. It is clear that it is useful because everything creates a spectacle, but for the coaches it is clearly not useful,” he lamented.
He also spoke about their upcoming match against RCD Espanyol during matchday 3 of LaLiga EA Sports. “We will manage according to how we see them; sometimes it is good to rotate, sometimes not. It is better to maintain the continuity of the team, always the most important match is the one we are going to play tomorrow, which is against Espanyol, who have played a very good match against Real Sociedad above all,” stressed the Argentine coach.
“The match against Valladolid was quite competitive, but the match against Real Sociedad was organised until the end, working well, with few changes until the end of the match. Therefore, the coach was seeing what was happening, that it was a very correct match. We imagine a match similar to the one I’m telling you about and from that we will prepare the match with those we think can hurt them,” he finally said during the press conference.