“The best squad? Men matter, not names”

Simeone appeared before the media of communication in a telematic way to analyze the match in Cornellá and the return of Griezmann. It was his first press conference after the market closed and the news of the Frenchman's return, two years after his departure. Is it the best squad that this one has trained? The technician responds.

–Griezmann: “I found a Griezmann with a lot of desire to return to Atleti. Excited about the situation of returning to the team. I imagine that the people of Atlético will demand Griezmann like us, daily. The Atlético fan is very demanding and it is normal for them to demand Griezmann like us every day ”.

–Template: “When one talks about better or worse or regular or short or long squad everything is seen as a consequence of what is going to happen throughout the season. The names do not make a team but the men. Tomorrow we will play against a complex, difficult opponent, who feels very good in his field, where physical condition will be important and the game will be tough, like everyone else in LaLiga ”.

–His best forward as a coach?: “In River, possibly, you do not remember the names, but there were Abreu, Alexis, Falcao, Buonanotte, Rosales, Ríos … They were all very good and important forwards, who coincided in the season in which we won the league in River.”

–Griezmann, exit, do you understand that people are upset?: “I understand absolutely everything and, what else, that we need to continue competing in the best way and I look for what is best for the team and for the club.”

–What do you expect from this season: “Surpass ourselves in consequence of what happened last season. We did not have a good Copa del Rey, in the Champions League we competed well but we would have liked to continue competing better. The Super Cup is in January … They are four very important competitions and hopefully we can add LaLiga. Improve last season's numbers ”.

–Griezmann, Suárez, João. Can you play together? Would you modify your scheme back?: “We can play with the characteristics of the players we have. We can play with four behind or three. The front end has grown in internal competition. There are the three of them plus Correa, Lemar and Cunha. They are the options we have for those three positions. The competition will be important and the fans, the club … will benefit ”.

–National team players, conflict: “I could tell you what I think as a coach but it will not influence anything so I keep it to myself. As a player I never resigned to going to play any national team match. And as a coach I always want the players with me to prepare the games in the best way ”.

–Best squad of his career: “It's what I said before, when you talk about good, bad or fair, you say it at the end. It is very easy to talk about names but men are the strength and how it is executed on the field, the ways of a team ”.