Diego Pablo Simeone, coach of Atlético de Madrid, spoke at a press conference to give his opinion on the current issues of the team these days just before facing Real Valladolid this Saturday at the Wanda Metropolitano. Treating topics such as the new football, the fight between Diego Costa and Morata, the new position of Marcos Llorente or of players like Herrera, Lodi or Felipe.
Rest for the players
Now the important thing is to win. And from that search for the team that has the most options to avoid physical problems. I see the squad in training, and through that we will see day after day who to start with and who to follow. The possibility of changes generates another party within the same party. This is what this new season finale allows us to live through.
Diego Costa and Morata
I have spoken to them a week before, and the same thing that I mentioned to you. I understood why they asked me why I couldn't play Morata and Costa together. They are very important. They are both engaged. They already saw him against Osasuna. Morata came out and in addition to the goal he showed his attitude in other aspects. That generates great strength for us.
Champions
The Champions League is always complex. Only large teams get to be among the best eight in Europe. That does not change the competition. It will be a demanding Champions League one game or two.
Empty metropolitan
We have spoken at the time about the circumstance that we have to take forward. People will not be. Many things and many circumstances have been experienced. We must adapt to compete as a team and as a club. Then, connection to the stands? At all times he sought to transmit more to my footballers. He tried as a coach to reach more of my players in different ways.
Marcos Llorente and Raúl García
Raúl has been a very important player in his time at Atlético de Madrid. I had already played before the second point sounds to me. While Marcos never imagined being a second point. But seeing each training for his strength, speed, punch we began to consider that possibility we discussed it with him. The truth is that above it gives us a lot, it is not easy to find a player who has that strength, that pressure … He is different from Joao, Vitolo … and I have no doubt that we will continue to use him later. In his day I saw Griezmann who could play second. Everyone told me it was a band. But due to his conditions, we thought he could explode as a forward. The same happened with Lucas who was central and won the World Cup as a left back. Since we saw him against Real Madrid in the Cup defending Cristiano, it was clear that this would be the case. In the case of Marcos I saw that in training he scored goals, he scored goals… a boy who scores goals must be used in the world of soccer.
Philip
Keep training part of the group is much better. Hopefully in three or four days we can count on him.
Herrera
I already said that Herrera shows in training: mister put me on. That is what we need. Not with words, not with gestures, but with the body. It provides vision of the game, experience on the field. Hopefully it continues giving us the alternative in the center of the field. We need everyone. In such a demanding season finale, so tight it is impossible to play with them always. Try to make footballers feel the reality. We need you all … if it is not complicated.
Renan Lodi
We will try to act accordingly to what we see. We have also trained with Arias on the left, with Hermoso. Manu is young but has a promising future. We will see the need for someone to come in for him.
Current football by Covid
I believe that life is circumstances. We cannot stop to think about what it is or how it was before. Now you have to reinvent yourself to continue with society. But it doesn't only happen in football, it happens to all of us because it happens in restaurants … to all. We are not an exception. We have to adjust to what is happening.
Satisfaction after 0-5
I listened to the Osasuna coach after the game. You do not have to put out your chest when you win or get depressed when you have an unfair result. Everything Osasuna is left behind. The only thing we have left is the match against Valladolid.