Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone spoke to the media ahead of the Champions League tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night to explain the kind of game he’d like to see from the Colchoneros.
“I’d like us to attack for 80 minutes, leaving the last 10 for them to come at us for a while, pressing high up the pitch, the team playing a passing game, scoring a goal from 20 touches like we had the other day at Levante,” Simeone responded sarcastically. “But the reality is different, and the reality is what
it will be tomorrow when the match kicks off: you’re going to face a powerful, strong side, and we’ll have to get through some difficult, tough moments, break free from their pressure, because they apply that pressure very effectively when we lose the ball.”
Diego Simeone on the chance of playing the Champions League final at the Metropolitano
“I don’t know how long we’ll stay in the Champions League, but I hope I don’t get asked this question at every press conference, because it’s repetitive. And I’ll say once again that it’s wonderful for the club that the final is being played at our ground, but we’re taking it one match at a time. There’s a huge amount of work to be done to reach a stage that’s very special, but it’s very difficult and, to get there, we need to work hard and focus on what we do in every match.”
Simeone on what’s on his mind before playing Bayern
“Well, a bit of everything. I think you know me well enough to identify three things that, obviously, are on my mind. And I’m absolutely grateful for everything that’s happened to me over these 15 years and, consequently, for what we’re experiencing, the fans, us, the club, our people, the directors. Anyway, we have to approach it with excitement, enthusiasm and joy, while obviously knowing that we’re up against a tough, very good opponent, surely one of the best in this competition, and that we’ll have to steer the match in a direction where we believe we can cause them problems.”
Simeone on Harry Kane
“First of all, I’d like to congratulate him on the Ballon d’Or, which he’s rightly won. I think he’s an incredible player; I’ve always liked him. I have no doubt about the growth and maturity he’s shown throughout his career. Over the years, he’s found better positions to play in, while still staying true to what he does best, which is scoring goals. You can see he’s committed to the job, you can see he’s committed to pulling the team out of trouble when they need him. He’s a natural goalscorer. To be honest, I’d like to congratulate him on all his talent because, obviously, it’s great for the game and, above all, for the young lads who look up to this sort of player, someone who leaves a legacy for the youngsters watching, showing them how they too can reach the top through hard work.”
Simeone on the area where Atlético most need to improve
“Balance. I think balance is the hardest thing to achieve. Consistency in maintaining a level of performance in almost every match, or every match, is what all coaches want, and I think that’s the area where we’re going to keep pushing.”
Simeone on the importance of the Metropolitano against Bayern
“The week has already started with Levante and we had the good fortune to win. Now we face Bayern Munich at home, where we need our fans to be as they usually are, growing stronger, closer to the players. What they convey, the players pick up on, and hopefully we, from the stands, can channel that energy they always bring us up onto the pitch and, of course, try to enjoy what we have too, because the truth is we have some wonderful and very important matches ahead of us.”
Simeone on Ademola Lookman’s form
“I don’t know if you’ve spoken to him personally, or if he’s playing somewhere he doesn’t want to be. To be honest, I think his season didn’t start quite as he’d have liked, but then again, Julián went through a difficult spell last year and came out the other side, and Griezmann, remember, there was a time when he wasn’t scoring and he came out the other side too. It’s all about hard work and believing in what you do. We believe, as I’ve been saying in almost every press conference regarding Lookman, in how important he is to us, because he’s one of the players who wins the most one-on-one duels in the final third, where, obviously, goals can be scored. And I have a lot of faith in him.
“I don’t want him to get caught up in that sense of frustration just because he’s not going through his best spell, because that’s part of life, part of the game, part of football, and there are times you just have to see them through until one day he starts scoring goals, starts playing better, starts providing assists, and starts feeling more alive, just as players naturally feel when the goals come, when they provide assists, and so on. Let’s hope that’s the path he can see for himself.”
Simeone on Obed Vargas
“He’s working really hard, he’s full of enthusiasm, really keen to play, and obviously very committed in everything he does. He behaves impeccably with his team-mates and is competing against lads who are performing very well, such as Barrios, Cardoso, Koke, Morten, Llorente, who can also play in midfield, and Mendoza. There are plenty of players in that position and the coaches are always hoping to see things in training that make us say: ‘wow, this guy has to play’, because he’s doing everything right. That’s what we look for so that this opportunity translates into the manager being able to pick him.”
Simeone on options in midfield
“It’s always clear that important matches, especially in the Champions League, are different; they’re not the same, because of the calibre of the opposition and the exposure involved. We’ve got plenty of options in midfield. Cardoso’s out, Morten’s out, and Koke’s coming back, he’s obviously always raring to go, but the match could be a long one. And today we’ve got all the lads who are waiting in the wings: Mendoza, Obed, I don’t want to leave anyone out, Llorente… Let me know if I’ve forgotten anyone. Today we need to think about the period between now and tomorrow at 6pm, more or less, so we’ve got time to decide what to do.”
