“Suárez was convinced from the first moment”

Simeone spoke to the media at a press conference in advance of Atlético's debut in an official match on the third day of LaLiga against Granada at the Wanda Metropolitano. First of all, he had a few words for the journalists: “I wanted to thank the support they have given me during this time that I had to be away due to COVID. I have been fortunate to have very few symptoms and to manage it in the best way. and assurance that things were going to turn out well. We are again very excited, eager to return to a wonderful tournament such as the Spanish League. “

What is your reading of Suarez choosing Atlético?

The arrival of Suárez invites us to continue growing as a club and as a team. His hierarchy will give us internal competence and offensive character and some historical numbers that I hope he can continue to maintain here. We had already talked to him before he went to Barcelona. An opportunity had arisen that he might come, but he chose another path. These six years have been successful and wonderful, with great football. His teammates welcome him with enthusiasm, with great enthusiasm and wanting him to adapt as quickly as possible to what we want so that his game and his goals help us to continue competing, as we have done every year.

What does Suárez improve, especially in offense?

We all know it. It is an important reference for the team. He has a great game on his back, his movements inside the rival area generate his habitat, where he best develops. Faced with the possibility of Morata leaving, we understood that the best way to keep trying to improve was to look for someone to beat goals last season. Obvious when the possibility of Suárez arose, because it was not easy to think of a replacement for Álvaro, the numbers speak for themselves. Hopefully we can help you to continue responding in the same way. We have been fortunate that when we had a very good Falcao, a very good Costa, a good Griezmann, we always came close to competing until the end for everything. We will try to overcome what we did last season

Will Suárez be called up for tomorrow? Can it debut?

Yesterday had a busy, long day. He ended up training very well with the team and he was seen with great enthusiasm and great enthusiasm. It is summoned and available to the team. Tomorrow we will decide if it starts from the beginning or enters the second half.

How have you lived not being able to be with the team?

Those of us who have had to go through it consider that, thank God, I think it touched me in the best way. At first I had sadness, disappointment, bitterness. But day after day, when you see that the symptoms I had were far away compared to those that occurred in the month of April, little by little you feel better and I always had the support of the doctors. On a day-to-day basis, trying to keep up with the team's work, keeping absolutely nothing away from what happened to the team in training. After so many years of footballers having me every day and being away for 15 days, perhaps it could have been good too. The moment they tell you that you are negative, it gives you joy, enthusiasm, excitement. Now, with energy, with enthusiasm, with enthusiasm, like every year a league starts where we know that game by game, more than ever, will be important.

With the arrival of Suárez, will your way of playing change? How would he convince those who doubt him?

He finished last season very well, despite being absent for several months. We seek to enhance the characteristics of the best players that we can have in the team. Many eves turned out very well and others evidently did not. When we had the best Falcao, Costa or Griezmann we were always close to the successes that the fans need and want.

What do you say to a player like Suárez to come to Atleti?

He was convinced from the first moment we spoke. He knew that this was the place to be able to continue being in force, to be able to continue showing that he is an important forward, to be able to continue supporting these years that have accompanied him at Barcelona. I found what we need in this club: enthusiasm and desire to be here and people when they come wanting to be here always or almost always do well.

Do you have Héctor Herrera for this season?

I'll tell you the same thing that I could tell you about the rest of the players who usually appear in the press. As long as they are with us here, we have everyone to the fullest. Until October 4, when the market closes, situations can be found for footballers that are good for leaving or staying. Until that day they are all exposed to being able to leave or stay.

To conclude, he spoke about the new song that Leiva and Joaquín Sabina presented yesterday dedicated to Atlético. “Exciting. They are images that represent the feeling that, for many years, has been developing in the club. Sometimes it is difficult with the music, the lyrics and the images to be able to clearly represent what Atlético is. We appreciate it because it has been a fantastic detail and we see ourselves represented. ”