Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone refused to accept that his side are favourites ahead of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
Simeone played down the label and insisted that his team would face this encounter “the same way we approach every game,” as he underlined that “I don’t think any team, when they take to the pitch, thinks about where they are in the table or their recent form.
“The players want to play,
they want to win, they want to do well, and I don’t know any player who is thinking about a free kick or a play based on where they are in the table,” Simeone continued. “They want to win the game in front of them, and I think that’s the case for all teams.”
Diego Simeone on keeping up this pace
“We’re not stopping to think about it. The most important thing is to work hard for what lies ahead, to manage everything as best we can. And, obviously, it’s great that we’re still in all competitions. It speaks well of everyone’s collective effort.”
Simeone on Tottenham not playing with a low block
“We don’t know how Tottenham will start the game. We know their characteristics, I know the coach. He (Igor Tudor) has always played with an offensive mindset with the teams he has been with, regardless of the formation he has used. And, well, we’ll see tomorrow. As we always say, you imagine a lot of situations that, obviously, the players on the field can change.”
Simeone on being the favourites
“I don’t know what it’s related to, if it’s related to the fact that they made it to the round of 16, finishing where they did, which was fourth. We’re not really favourites. If you want to relate it to their form, it’s up to you how you want to write about it or how you want to convey it to your audience.”
Simeone on emotionally managing playing every three days
“In our private lives or in our daily lives with the players? We try to manage training in the best way possible, always trying to give them a chance to have some free time to disconnect a little, because there isn’t much time to disconnect. And with family, you have to be with the people you love, which is obviously what we need most in the few moments we have.”
Simeone on the Premier League
“Yes, it definitely has a higher tempo. I don’t know what that’s related to yet, I can’t figure it out. Many say that the referees let the game flow a lot, they don’t stop it as much, so it’s much more back and forth. I don’t know if it’s in the approach, I don’t know if it’s in the work that can be done in the run-up, but it’s true that there is a higher tempo. And you can see it when you watch television, you see that there is a higher pace than we play (in Spain), than they play in Italy, than they play in France, than they play in Germany. I have no doubt that it is the championship with the highest pace of play.”
Simeone on whether Atlético are ready to compete at the pace of the Champions League
“Well, I don’t think that intensity alone will win games. And from there, obviously, there’s always the technical quality too to get through this phase, which may be lower than in English football.”
Simeone on what worries him about Tottenham
“Understanding that football is a game. And that obviously when you have a squad like Tottenham has and a team like Tottenham, there’s obviously absolute respect. We’ll have to take the game where we think we can hurt them.”
Simeone on Conor Gallagher and Tottenham’s situation in the league
“I can’t comment on the first question because I don’t follow the league on a daily basis. And I’m not one to comment on things that aren’t ours. On the other hand, as for Conor, he’s a guy who worked with a lot of humility since he came to us. He’s a hard worker. He’s a player who is very dangerous coming in from the second line. He’s a player who can play in different positions because of the collective work he does for the team. He’s a guy who has behaved very well, and we have very fond memories of his time at Atlético Madrid.”
Robin Le Normand also spoke to the media as part of the pre-game press conference, talking about the tie and his falling out of favour in the team of late.
Robin Le Normand on being favourites
“There are no favourites, everyone is competing well. It’s going to be a very tough game, as always. We are among the 16 best teams and we will have to play a very complete game at home to come away with a victory.”
Le Normand on Tottenham having 46 more hours of rest
“There has been a lot of talk, last year too, about the schedule and rest time. We can take it into account, but it’s no longer up to us. What we can control is our recovery, staying fresh, having a strong squad to cope with so many games and difficult schedules, and staying focused on our team and being prepared for these matches.”
Le Normand on how he feels
“I’m fine, calm. It’s a very long season with a lot of games. We have a strong squad and I feel calm, prepared and eager to play.”
Le Normand on Simeone talking to the players who get less playing time
“The key is the group. We’re proving that. We’ve all worked hard enough in training and when we’ve been called upon, we’ve shown that we can contribute. The group is doing well, the coach manages it well in my case. We’re very happy and we’ll keep going.”
Le Normand on what Atleti need to do to win
“Lots of things well. These are important games, we’ve made it to the last 16, there’s a lot of quality, very good players, and we’ll have to play a very complete game defensively and offensively. What I’m saying isn’t original, but those are the keys.”
