A frustrated spoke to the press following Atlético Madrid’s 1-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.
Asked what this side needs to win, Simeone chose a blunt answer.
“That’s a question that would take much longer to answer than I have time for,” he said. “I’d say (Atleti’s next opponent) Osasuna.”
Diego Simeone on what frustrated him the most
“Let’s go back to the word ‘finishing.’ Obviously, it’s not a positive, because today the team once again had three key chances in the first half and three in the second, but couldn’t convert any
of them. Celta were clinical; Borja finished very well with great clarity and composure. The guys gave it everything they had, and there’s not much else to say.”
Simeone on three games with nothing to play for
“Right now, we have to manage the situation. The players have played a key role in La Liga in achieving the club’s goal of qualifying for the Champions League. We’ve competed very well in the Champions League, performing better than expected. In the Copa del Rey, we went as far as we could and it came down to penalties.
I don’t have to tell them anything. Manage the moments, finish strong, talk to them, thank them for their effort, and that’s about it.”
Simeone on the motivation being a challenge
“When you go out to play, you never want to lose, and obviously we’ll compete just as we always have. We could have won if we’d been more decisive. We’re in a moment where things aren’t going our way, unlike when the league started and everything was a disaster. Then the situation changed, we competed well in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, and in La Liga we’ve maintained the stability needed to qualify for the Champions League for another year. It’s about management, staying close to them, and making sure they’re ready to compete on Tuesday.”
Simeone on whether mental or physical factors matter more at this stage of the season
“It’s about managing this moment just as we manage other different moments. This is an important one because the club’s objective was met. We’re not going to win the league, we’re not going to play in the Champions League final, we competed well in the Copa del Rey but didn’t win it. We have to manage it because we’re human. And we have to do it just like today, when it seemed like we threw it away. We did a lot to score a goal that never came.”
Simeone on Miguel Cubo
“The team’s level was good. We lost the match and everything seems bad; the team played well and lost, and when that happens, morale drops. I have no doubt that if the guys can participate in these matches, we’ll look to create that dynamic within the team. We have some players who will be out, and we’ll have to compensate with some of these guys who come in with the excitement and enthusiasm that these players always have.”
Simeone on Antoine Griezmann being upset about his substitution
“How could I not understand him? But I always think of the team first, and I understood that he had given his all and that perhaps with the substitution we made, we could have created more opportunities that didn’t materialize, but that was the intention.”
