Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone spoke to the media on Monday ahead of Tuesday evening’s UEFA Champions League play-off second leg against Club Brugge at the Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Simeone reflected that “the match could be unimaginable because you have an idea of what might happen, but obviously it doesn’t always turn out that way and you have to adapt to what happens during the game.
“I think we’re going to approach the game in a way that we believe will hurt them (and) we need our
fans, we need them to be close to the team,” Simeone said. “As I said in the post-match interview the other day, that energy they give us feeds us, and we have to give it back to them with hard work, with soccer, with our play, and I hope the team can play a good game tomorrow.”
Simeone on the compatibility of Alexander Sørloth and Julián Alvarez
“Yes, they are compatible. And they have already played a lot of games together. They are compatible for tomorrow and for any other game.”
Simeone on offensive and defensive balance
“I think the players we have take us to that place where we have more attacking players with good offensive play. The team has evolved a lot in that aspect, and it’s clear that we need to recover our defensive aspect, which I think isn’t so bad in La Liga, but even so, we’re far from where we should be. So let’s hope we can find that balance, which is what we’re always looking for.”
Simeone on his pre-match speech to the players
“When I wake up tomorrow morning, I’ll probably start thinking about what I can say to the guys.”
Simeone on Antoine Griezmann and Koke’s leadership
“They are club legends, historic players with an important present, and obviously they are not going to give up that position until the end of the season because they want to play, they want to compete, they want to win, and everything they give us, obviously, as we can see, is very important for the team. Whether they play 20 minutes, 60 minutes or 90 minutes.”
Simeone on his personal energy levels
“I think I answered the question about the fans in the first question. I’m feeling great.”
Simeone on the approach to this game
“I don’t relate all those thoughts to having nothing to lose, I see the team we’re going to play, a team that plays well, especially at home, very well, and that is brave, has a lot of young players, moves a lot, and has been competing since the arrival of the coach, who is very good, in the best way possible. We believe we’re going to take the game to where we think we can hurt them.”
Simeone on the impact of this result on the season
“I can’t start thinking about whether we win or lose. Right now, I’m thinking about playing the game, and when one thing or the other happens tomorrow, I’ll answer you.”
Simeone on the pressure of being the favorite
“No, we are clear about our place in tomorrow’s game. I am clear that the opposing team is not going to change anything at all because that’s how they play. They have always played that way, away or at home, so I can’t imagine another game similar to the one we played the other day.”
Simeone on similarities with Club Brugge
“The truth is, I don’t know if I think too much about whether we are similar or not. I think they work very well, they have always worked well. I think this is the third time we are going to face Brugge, and it has never been an easy game. It’s always been a tough, hard game, whether at their place or ours, and I can’t imagine any other game than the one I’m describing.”
Simeone on whether Club Brugge surprised him
“No, I wasn’t surprised at all because we knew, as I just said, that the games we’d played at that ground had been tough and difficult, and I can’t imagine any other situation than the one we faced that morning. Adjustments, yes, it’s clear that after they played against us and we played against them, surely, both they and we end up adjusting some things because you’re seeing what you had to play against the opponent you’re going to play again. But hey, maybe we’re looking for things that coaches never do.”
