Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone sought to protect his team from criticism after a series of spectacular results for all the right and all the wrong reasons in recent weeks.
When asked why his side has been so inconsistent in recent weeks, Simeone said “it’s because the players are people, and obviously we don’t all behave the same way every day, even though we would like to behave the same way all the time.
“I always talk about what usually happens, (the ideas) that the team lacks intensity or
that the team throws the game, things like that,” Simeone said. “I think it’s 20 years as a coach, 19 as a player, and I don’t know a footballer who doesn’t go out to play and win a game.
“There may be situations that you can handle in the best way possible and situations that you don’t know how to handle, and that’s when the negative situations in the game start to appear,” he continued. “I believe that the matches we’ve lost are because we played badly and there’s nothing else I can attribute it to, knowing the enthusiasm with which every footballer I’ve ever had approaches every match.”
Diego Simeone on Pablo Barrios’ condition and Ademola Lookman’s adaptation
“I don’t have any information about Pablo Barrios yet, as I’ve only just arrived (to the press conference), so the doctors will let me know how he’s progressing. As for Ademola Lookman, he’s fitting in very well with what the team needs. We also need more effort from him collectively so that he can help us defensively, adding to that everything he has offensively, which is very good, and generating more collective work within the team, which is what has always been important to us in all the players we’ve had.”
Simeone on what he expects from Espanyol
“Honestly, it’s difficult to know what kind of opponent we’re going to face; we always think we’re going to face the best opponent so that we can obviously control the situations that can be controlled. They are an absolutely competitive team, their manager has managed that version of the team very well so that they can compete as they do, they have incredible defensive work, one of the best in that 4-4-2 that they manage very well, and with a lot of strength in attack. They always have people offensively to occupy the attacking lanes very well. We will have to take the game where we think we can hurt them.”
Simeone on his focus
“Espanyol, the caution we need to have is Espanyol.”
Simeone on the schedule
“With difficult schedules, those 72 hours that don’t work; I don’t know who to blame anymore, but there aren’t 72 hours (in between games). Maybe I’m seeing it wrong, or maybe I thought the schedules were different. It’s difficult to sustain, that’s why teams need a large squad; 10 or 12 players aren’t enough, as they used to be. It’s clear that there are many more matches, the competition, especially in the Champions League, has grown; if you don’t qualify for the round of 16 to have those two weeks that are so important and very favourable for those who make it, not to mention if you reach the semi-finals or final of the Copa del Rey, because it does involve more effort.
“I have no doubt that squads need to grow and, obviously, our work as coaches must be important as a result of what we see from one match to another, in relation to what the players can give us and how far we can push them, because we all know that after playing six matches, a player can get injured, which is a basic issue. But anyway, we have to manage it; sometimes it’s difficult because every match is important. You ask the players how they are, they say they’re fine, and I tell them I’m fine too, but I can’t play; so it’s clear that they have the intention, and our management of the physical and playing aspects is key.”
Simeone on Julián Alvarez and his future
“I’m not inside Julián’s head, I only see how he played in the last two matches and I understand that he’s returning to the place he always was and we need him that way. After that, whatever is in his head, I can’t get inside his head and, from what I see reflected in his work, I’m very happy with everything he gives us.”
Simeone on the gap from Real Madrid and Barça
“No, I don’t think it’s exaggerated because we weren’t able to play the same way against other opponents.”
Simeone on competition between Oblak and Musso for the goalkeeper’s spot
“No, I think we’re in the same position we’ve always been in, with Musso doing very well in the Copa del Rey and Oblak doing very well in the Champions League and La Liga.”
Simeone on the importance of winning versus putting on a good show
“It’s more important to win than to put on a good show tomorrow.”
