Diego Pablo Simeone attended to the press through video format before the League restarted. The coach stressed that it is a new form of play with unknown difficulties, something that causes everything to worry him and that ambition will be decisive in the empty stands.
Many modifications are going to take place and there will be five changes.
They are all new situations. It seems correct to me the situation of having the five variants to refresh before the quantity of parties that we are going to have. The greater the ability of the group to understand the importance it has, whether in 20 or 70 minutes, the differences between the teams will be. We have already seen in the games that are being played that the people who enter fresh who enter end up being decisive, so more than ever it depends on the group and what we said that five minutes is a lot, now they will have a lot of value in the game.
What can be the determining factor?
The ambition. I think that the team that manages to awaken the amateurism that we had when we went to play in a plaza, when we went with friends to a field without people or when we were boys and only the parents saw us … those who have ambition and that competitive gene that not only wakes it up people are going to have a plus. The technical quality of the footballers, since the physics obviously that has not been able to develop in the best way, will have an important point and will depend on how the coaches can handle the changes, make everyone feel important and we realize the importance so large of an entire template. We are going to face unknown situations but apparently they are on the way to this.
They will not have an audience.
All teams thrive on that number twelve player who we always call the fans. In Wanda we depend a lot on that situation. But we must awaken the ambition of each one that is related to the motivation to meet the objectives and face them knowing that there will be different situations from what we have experienced. People are very important, but they will not be. As much as we start to think about what is going to happen, it is a moment of acceptance, it is what there is and we must prepare to surrender.
How do you see the staff as aware?
With enthusiasm, you want to play soccer. They have isolated themselves at home working without living together, but there is an important illusion. We need to develop with facts, words count little and tomorrow we are going to find ourselves facing a competitive, strong team that knows what it plays, with a specific game pattern as it has been developed until today.
Is it better to finish one competition and then another?
It is a moment of acceptance so that everything goes forward. There were people looking for solutions, but what we all wanted was to play again and we prepared ourselves with what we have. What we have is a match every day and after that three weeks of stop to define a competition as important as the Champions.
What is the physical state of the squad?
Explaining how the template is is almost impossible, it would be to find excuses that time was short. But it is what there is, we prepared ourselves in the best way that we could and understood and now to play. Then we will see how we can solve the difficulties that will surely appear. What we can reinvent the complex situations with which we have to live will be much better.
What do you think of the schedules?
I will tell you a word: Bilbao. It is the only thing that interests us. We cannot handle some situations and circumstances and we do not understand the excuses. The schedule that they tell us to play.
Apparently Marcos Llorente will play more advanced.
We handle different situations and Marcos gives us important alternatives. We can play with three in the middle and Carrasco forward, Llorente to the right and Koke to the left … I consider that Marcos has a very good physical condition and second-line finish. He already showed it when they thought about Anfield that taking him out for Costa was a defensive change and was very important for the team. He gives us work in the middle, because he is a midfielder and has a route and a chance to score. At this moment putting Costa and Morata together is not the same as in preseason. I explain it, now I can't take advantage of the two together because I don't have a team prepared to support the two forwards. I prefer to harness the power that each one has separately until at some point they can play together. That's why I explain why Álvaro and Costa do not play having Álvaro available.
What worries you the most?
We are concerned about everything. We are going to enter something unknown, something that we were not used to, a championship with eleven dates, a championship that returns, five changes, game every three or four days, I am worried about everything and busy trying to solve all difficulties in the best way they will appear, because they will be. It is a moment that you have to understand the word acceptance, not looking at what could be, if not at what is.
Does winning at Anfield still have a way?
That victory was far behind, which was very important with a huge victory among the best Atlético games in its history as a result. The scenario is totally different and the coaches have to bring players to the same line of competitiveness, dedication and team play more than ever. The changes will be decisive, if they go well the force will be maintained, those who start from the bench will play more the next game and the coach must have a fine hand to read the best for the team.
How is Felipe?
For this game we will not have him. Surely for Wednesday he will be in the best way, he is a player with whom he needs more preparation time, he is very tall, strong and that time we need to win with minutes to be able to have the best Felipe who left a League and a Champions League at a very high level.
Mono Burgos is leaving.
I have absolute thanks to Germán, it is essential. I am grateful to this time that Germán has given me and we have shared both work and personal. It is a very important decision and you will find challenges that will motivate you and generate a desire for the goals you need. Some players have already commented on what Germán has given us and when he finishes wishing him the best for what he has given us.