Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone previewed his team’s second La Liga game of the season against Villarreal on Sunday evening, with much of the talk surrounding star striker Julián Alvarez, who could play for the first time after demanding a transfer that has not materialised.
“First of all, I want to finish the thought I expressed at the last press conference, where I said that I respect the fans. That’s absolutely true, it’s always been that way, but obviously I don’t condone insults or offensive
remarks,” Simeone clarified. “Let me be clear about this because any word right now, when everyone is waiting for that division to be decided, could, in the big picture, create conflict and uncertainty.
“There is no uncertainty (with Julián). Miguel Ángel (Gil Marín) spoke clearly. For me, he’s an extremely important player for achieving our sporting goals. We’re going to stand by him; we’re going to look out for him from a sporting standpoint. Why? Because he’s one of our players, and as long as he’s at Atlético, I’m going to look out for him,” Simeone said.
Diego Simeone on whether Julián will be included against Villarreal
“Yes, he’ll be in tomorrow’s squad; he’s making good progress in his preparation. Tomorrow we’ll try to manage what will be a difficult match against a great opponent. We’re still in the process of managing playing time, whereas our opponents don’t have that problem.”
Simeone on fitness levels
“I’m still concerned. I’d like to have everyone available so I can choose who can play. I have to consider the physical and emotional aspects, how they’ll respond after the time they spent on vacation. Not to mention Cuti, who’s just getting started. We’re working on creativity, aiming for the team to compete well. We know that when we’re united, we’re a tough team to beat.”
Simeone on how Julián is doing
“It’s hard to say how someone else is feeling individually because I’m not that person. What I see is that he’s working as hard as he can, training with his teammates, and showing a lot of respect to everyone. I have no doubt about the path we’ve chosen to take with the club, which is to build a great team, that’s our goal. What matters is Villarreal, not anything else. That’s what I’m focusing on.”
Simeone on the possible starting lineup
“I’m still mulling it over to ensure we can compete for the full 90 minutes.”
Simeone on Atlético’s strength
“The team. I have no doubt that we don’t rely on individual players; we rely on our collective strength, on the 120 percent we have to give. 100 percent isn’t enough for us. Let’s hope we find a stadium like the one we played in the other day, it was incredible how many people were there in August. Hopefully we can play a good game against a tough, complex opponent with talented players.”
