Atlético Madrid sealed their first victory of the 2025/26 season in emphatic fashion by beating Villarreal 2-0 at the Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Saturday night, and coach Diego Simeone was overjoyed as he faced the media in the aftermath.
When asked why he made the unusual decision to join the team’s post-match celebrations, rather than heading straight down the tunnel, he explained “this wasn’t just another day, after getting two points in three games and playing at home with your fans needing
to win the match.”
“I thought it was a good opportunity to get closer and be with the lads,” he continued. “We have that little space until tomorrow at 10am, when we’ll start thinking about Liverpool.”
Diego Simeone on the relief of victory
“The same relief we’ve been feeling based on what I said about the responsibility of the club and the team. The team deserved a little more; football had given us two points at the start and we really needed to get three. The team played well and interpreted the game very well against a team that was doing very well. They are very good on the counterattack, but I think we controlled the game from start to finish.
“In the first half, even though we had the ball and created chances, they had (Alberto) Moleiro’s chances and could have hurt us. In the second half, there was no such feeling, it was a more controlled game, and Nico’s great goal helped us a lot. We all made a great effort to bring him in during the final days of the transfer window. We knew he could help us, and today he gave us a little of what we expected: hard work, runs, that left foot in the area beyond Almada and Baena, who are not here today. We have completed a squad to compete in the best possible way.”
Diego Simeone on Griezmann and Koke
“When I talk about them, I get emotional. They are the living history of Atlético de Madrid and they are part of the group, knowing the place they are going to occupy. Today it was their turn to play because it was a match for them, the hierarchy, quality and temperament they have so that the team can convey it. Koke had a tremendous game, Antoine ran, linked up, looked to assist, and we need them when the team needs them and the manager, which is me, understands that they can help us with their incredible quality.”
Diego Simeone on the performance
“We had 25 or 30 very good minutes, the goal came from pressure in the opponent’s half, Giuliano’s (shot in the 14th minute) was perfect, it’s a pity he lacked the composure to finish it off, but I’m satisfied with the team. They were compact, growing in defence, without the anxiety that (recent results) had generated. They knew they had to play against a very dangerous opponent, especially on the counterattack, and we controlled it very well, closing out a very good game.”
Diego Simeone on Julián Alvarez’s fitness
“We’ll have to wait until tomorrow when he wakes up and has his first few hours with those knocks, but let’s hope it’s nothing and he’s back as soon as possible.”
Diego Simeone on Dávid Hancko’s injury
“We don’t talk to the doctor about each of the lads individually. In general, they are discomforts, knocks, he twisted his ankle and we will have more information tomorrow morning.”
Diego Simeone on the fans
“We are in the spotlight and we want to win. People come to see a show, not a person. People need progress, and it’s normal for them to want what’s happening right now. We live in the present, not in the past or the future. People want to see something good, a team that plays well, and I think it was an important match against a tough opponent and today we got a very good win.”
Diego Simeone on his highlight
“The match in general was very good, very consistent. We didn’t have those moments where the opponent controlled the game. There were a few situations in the first half that we could have handled better, but Villarreal are also very good, and hopefully we can continue in the same vein as we did today.”
