Ahead of Sunday’s Madrid derby at the Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone spoke about the threat posed by Real Madrid in his pre-match press conference.
“Well, given the characteristics of each team, they may have an even better transition game than ours, one that’s much more direct,” Simeone confessed. “When they win the ball back, their first option is Kylian Mbappé, their second option is Vinícius Júnior, and, obviously, they’re players who are very powerful, very strong,
and who, whenever we lose possession, capitalize on that situation.
“On our end, we need to read the game as best as we can so that, obviously, turnovers don’t lead us into the areas where they feel most comfortable, which is what they’ve shown best since the league began: all those lightning-fast transitions they execute,” Simeone insisted.
Diego Simeone on whether the derby is different to Osasuna or Elche
“We’re used to the fact that the previous game isn’t related to the derby. I don’t see how the previous game, neither theirs nor ours, is connected to the match that’s going to take place tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a different game, with two teams that have good players, and let’s hope we can take the game where we can hurt them.”
Simeone on Julián Alvarez’s availability
“Yes, he’ll be with us. We’ll decide later whether he starts from the beginning or comes in during the second half.”
Simeone on his relationship with José Mourinho
“Honestly, to go back and dwell on so many years ago… The truth is, I don’t have any answers right now that would satisfy your question. I have enormous respect for José Mourinho; I’ve obviously been an admirer of his for a very long time. I’ve followed him, I’ve watched him, and he knows how much I appreciate him. Let’s hope that tomorrow we can compete the way we’ve done whenever we’ve faced him.”
Simeone on Alejandro Grimaldo’s improvement
“I think it’s only natural. He’s gradually adapting to the team. I think that as early as the match against Real Sociedad, he took on responsibilities, like taking the penalty kick, which I believe has elevated his standing within the team, especially for him. The assist that followed, the excellent game he played the other day in all phases of the attack… He’s a very important player. We obviously need to help him on the defensive end and for him to step up his effort so that we can balance all that attacking talent with the defensive side of things, which means, first, we have to help him, and he has to help us.”
Simeone on advice for the new signings
“To be honest, I’m not one to give advice because I don’t think I’m in a position to do so, though I am, of course, here to share my experiences. The pressure is normal, as is the excitement a game like tomorrow’s brings, especially at the Metropolitano with our fans, but at the end of the day, football is about staying calm. Talent, every one of the guys you mentioned has it, and there’s one word that comes before everything else: confidence. When you’re confident in what you’re doing, things might go wrong or they might go right, but you’ll go to sleep at peace.”
Simeone on Ademola Lookman’s role
“Ademola Lookman is a player I care about deeply, he has a style of play that we don’t currently have on the roster. To me, he’s the most dangerous player in one-on-one situations near the edge of the box, and, well, we don’t need him. Whether it’s 90 minutes, 60 minutes, or however long he’s on the field, because all his offensive potential, ever since he arrived, has done us a world of good. This start to the season might not be what he’d surely like to have, but I have no doubt he’ll step up because he brings something different to the table.”
Simeone on the timing of the derby at this point in the season
“It’s always at this point in the season, what a coincidence.”
Simeone on the atmosphere he expects at the Metropolitano
“The truth is, Madrid is having an incredible week. I got the chance to spend some time at a Formula 1 race. Yesterday I went to see Shakira for a bit. Tomorrow, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are playing. The crowd tomorrow is going to be spectacular. Madrid is growing. Madrid keeps growing. Honestly, there’s a great energy in the city, and hopefully we’ll be able to enjoy it tomorrow.”
Simeone on competition in midfield
“For us, the growth of each of these players is very positive because it creates the competition we’ve always wanted to help us perform better on the field. Each of them has different qualities and can help us in different ways. Let’s hope we make the right calls and that every decision we make regarding them aligns with what the game actually needs.”
Simeone on the tension and excitement of the derby
“It’s different, we can’t lie. There’s enormous tension and excitement because of the rivalry, because of the competitiveness we’ve managed to regain over the last 15 years. I think confidence is a key factor in this match, and hopefully tomorrow we can show that on the field, taking the game where we think we can do them damage.”
