Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone praised his players after their 2-1 home loss to Barcelona at the Metropolitano in La Liga on Sunday night.
“I’d say the players put in an extraordinary performance; there’s nothing to complain about because we played the sort of match we wanted to play,” Simeone insisted. “We pressed in the first half with great intensity, forced the opposition into a position where they weren’t comfortable, and we created chances.
“This time we lacked that clinical finishing that we might
have had on other days, and they’re very good at capitalising on their chances. They had fewer goal-scoring opportunities, and they were very clinical with the chances they did have. As for the match, I’m proud of the team. A very good match, I loved it. I’m very pleased with everyone’s effort.”
Diego Simeone on the equaliser before half-time and the team’s physical performance
“I’m not sure if it was down to physical fitness. Perhaps in terms of whether certain players coming on from the bench made a better or worse impact, possibly. But I think the match overall went the way we always wanted it to. Right up to the end, we had that chance we were talking about involving Álex Baena and Alexander Sørloth. And, well, I don’t think they had that many chances at the end either. Simply put, they did have more possession because, obviously, they control the game very well.
“But the truth is, I’m leaving feeling pleased with the team. I’m leaving knowing that we’re a work in progress, that we still have things to improve on and that, obviously, we have players who need to keep developing.”
Simeone on the impact of substitutions
“You always want those coming on to make an extraordinary impact. Sometimes the match doesn’t allow for that, sometimes the opposition doesn’t either. Every player who comes on wants to do well, and I’ll take away that intention, that they wanted to do well. But we were playing against a strong opponent; matches have their phases. Our spell, perhaps during those 45 or 50 minutes, was very good, that was our time. And then we entered a phase where the opposition took control, and during that period they were more decisive than us.”
Simeone on Julián Alvarez’s performance and his missed chances
“To be honest, it was an important performance for me. He was involved, as you were explaining, in these three situations, plus the assist for Giuliano Simeone. In the second half, he had that chance we mentioned, where he shot over the keeper. And the cross to Álex Baena was down to him too. So, what more can we ask of him? I think, honestly, that’s everything.”
Simeone on Julián Alvarez’s importance
“The pass to Álex Baena was also from him, so what more can we ask of him? I think, honestly, that’s everything. We wanted him to show his usual decisiveness. But we’ll stand by him because he’s a great player; we want him. To get where we want to be, we need Julián Alvarez at his best; otherwise, we won’t get there.”
Simeone on the pressure on Julián Alvarez
“I’m not in his shoes; he has our full confidence and, to be honest, I’m not in his shoes.”
