Diego Pablo Simeon attended the media after the match against Manchester City. The Atlético coach, with a hoarse voice, made an effort to give value to his team’s performance.
Is the result good?
The result is bad because we lost and we were looking to win. We are facing an extraordinary rival. The numbers are there, the goals they score at home… They are dynamic, with many people in attack, continually proposing collective choral play and very nice to see. We play with the thought of passing, of searching with our tools how to face ourselves. We defended very well in the first half with a great effort to get there. If choral attack is valued, strong and unashamed defense must also be valued. We couldn’t attack there, in the second a little better in the occasional counterattack. We will have to suffer. In Madrid they will play the same and we will look for the goal.
How can it be the return?
We have to improve, try to have more of the ball. When we were able to circulate we generated difficulties. He goes calmly, with the humility of making an effort to continue in the tie and from there, play.
Did the changes affect one and the other?
We wanted to continue playing as a team, replenishing energy with fresh people. They also did it with very, very good attackers. They found a filtered pass, De Bruyne is a specialist and with that goal they took a match justly won 1-0.
How far can you compete?
Words are useless, the field will tell. It’s a long game, one here and one at home, they play the same way, their football is that, possibly the best team in the world. But with humility we will compete. Until where? where it gives us
What do you expect from the Metropolitan?
Humility, energy, work and understanding what the path is.
How do you see the locker room for the second leg?
They are not happy, but they know they competed well. We had difficulties, but they must have thought about it too. The game was clear. Then it will be in the capacity of each team.