Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone was quizzed on Sunday by the media before he takes him to La Cartuja for a Monday night showdown with Real Betis. Simeone responded bluntly when he was questioned about
how every bad result brings speculation about Julián Alvarez’s future,
“I’m not involved in the contract, but the club knows what it has to generate and manage for the best of the team and the institution,” he said. “I see him as absolutely committed, in the last match (at Arsenal), he could have scored two goals, in the only two clear chances the team had in the opponent’s half. I expect the best from him. I see him as committed, enthusiastic, happy… Let’s hope tomorrow will be a better match.”
Diego Simeone on Álex Baena
“We always expect a lot from everyone, not just from one person in particular. Both Álex and all the new players who are striving to be their best to adapt to a different team like Atleti are putting all their enthusiasm into working hard and committing themselves to give their best. I have no doubt that he will make a difference and do us a lot of good over the years at the club.”
Diego Simeone on 30 years at the club
“It gives me constant challenges. We arrived with the club in one position and, thanks to the enormous work of the entire board, led by Miguel (Gil) and Enrique (Cerezo), they have taken the club to an extraordinary place. The challenge is to want more, to keep striving to be better, just like we did from the first day we arrived. To remain committed to the club’s idiosyncratic style of play throughout Atleti’s history, and we’re going to keep going until the very last day.”
Diego Simeone on rotations
“There are a lot of new players and they are not adapted to what has always been the norm and continues to be with us, which is that if we win, we will have chosen well, and if not, badly, as is then pointed out from the outside. But we convey to our players what we will always continue to do, giving importance to the minutes. The most important thing is the start of the match, although it is not decisive for when it ends. In these 14 years, (the team) has gained a lot from all the people who have come off the bench and who are committed, which is the most important thing.”
Diego Simeone on Thiago Almada
“He can play in different positions and has something that Griezmann, Baena, Julián and others also have: great vision, and those players are different. We have to try to find the right place for them and, in the minutes they get, they can demonstrate what we are talking about.”
Diego Simeone on the difference away from home
“In reality, it’s everything: when a team fails to be consistent away from home, it’s not just one thing, there’s a pattern to try to improve. It can be everything or nothing. There’s a button we haven’t pressed, which happens to most teams that lose a lot of points away from home. Points you need to fight for the top spots.”
Diego Simeone on Champions League rivals
“Betis are better than in previous years. Always following the coach’s plan, with a very clear game plan. Brave players in attack, with a pattern that doesn’t change and is reflected with courage. They have dynamic players and are defending well.”
Diego Simeone on El Clásico
“It’s harder for the referees than it is for us. That’s tough.”
Diego Simeone on Johnny Cardoso
“He has made an effort to come back. He had a minor relapse and is hugely committed to recovering as soon as possible. Tomorrow he will be with the team. He’s starting to get to where we need him to be. We believe in him. We want him to be at his best, and for that he’ll have to push himself hard.”
Diego Simeone on his long chat with Alexander Sørloth at training
”In the previous match, we asked him to do a committed job, such as containing (Martin) Zubimendi in the game. Arsenal struggled enormously to find their rhythm thanks to his work. Other times we get together to say ‘we have to work harder’ or ‘that’s not the team’s approach’, when things are going well and we need to talk, and we talk about that and a lot of other things that stay between us.”
Diego Simeone on the run of form away from home
“I’m excited, things don’t last forever. We hope that things will start to change, game by game. I’m fuelled by excitement, it’s a challenge and an opportunity. We’re always trying to see if we can push the right button.”
