Diego Pablo Simeone went through the microphones of Movistar LaLiga after the tie achieved by the Atlético de Madrid before him Celtic in Balaídos.
Tie: “The first half was very good. Intense for both sides. We had opportunities to get ahead more in the first half. It couldn't be. They found the goal in the second half and the game was more difficult, with less possibilities for both of them “Always waiting for a mistake from the rival. The game went smoothly and with the tie it was just what was seen in the second half.”
Damage after Celta's goal: “It is not that they created many occasions after the goal. The 1-1 generated us to go again for the game and it was difficult for us to generate as much as in the first half. I keep the first half. It was exciting.”
15 official matches without losing: “The path is to be in the top three or four. It is the only thing that matters.”
Betis: “Difficult match. Change of coach. People with enthusiasm to show themselves. We will rest and have a good game at Wanda.”
Later he spoke to the press
How are you seeing your team?
After the match with Liverpool there was an improvement, speaking when there were no training sessions and what the team needed working to ensure they arrive in the best way. There was an important leap in players like Arias, Correa, Carrasco or Llorente, who gave us one more step on speed, especially in the decisive part of the team. In the first half there were situations to extend the 0-1, but when the second started their unexpected draw came and we had to try to remake ourselves. We had some, the game was more stuck and headed for a draw.
It seems that it was a game with less intensity than the previous ones.
It is normal, we come with significant pressure, every game there is a need to run to get to the place where we want to be and in every race it is normal that there is a feeling of less than elsewhere. But in the first half it seems to me that the team had quite a few important things. Then there is victory, draw or defeat and the rival team also competes.
How do you feel after the tie?
In the first half the game was how we wanted to play it. We had the ball, and they did not create much danger for us, which was in our counterattacks to find the second goal. The draw was a rare goal, you saw it, but important for them and we could not generate what we were looking for.
He did not have the punch of Costa, João Félix or Carrasco.
We have a very competitive group, with footballers who were confident in their characteristics and today they did not have to play players who have returned very well, but Vitolo, Herrera, Ivan entered, who had space today and tried to do it in the best possible way.
No one is disengaged, Arias is very well.
I think the credit goes to them. Having so many players available and that everyone accepts, although they want to play the 90 minutes they do not value that step. We try to run this marathon of matches by distributing them in the best way to win. Soccer players have left us with fewer minutes, such as Herrera, Vitolo, Saponjic or Lemar, but those who have played have had a very good level. We are going to need everyone, because in the end the Spanish LaLiga is very demanding.