Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone addressed the media on Monday night from the Emirates Stadium ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Arsenal.
When asked whether he thinks his team is underrated entering this tie, Simeone responded “opinions are generated about everything in life, everyone has their own opinion and their own path … we know what ours is, we have a clear identity, we know how we play.”
Simeone thinks his Atlético team “has evolved in terms of the characteristics of the players
we have, and we come here with the hope of playing a great game, of getting a win away from home and in the Champions League, which we need.”
Diego Simeone on similarities with Liverpool
“We’re up against a very good team, with a defined style of play and incredible characteristics in the way they manage matches. (Mikel) Arteta has been there for five or six years, with a clear identity that they don’t compromise on. On the contrary, they’re improving it, bringing in great players for the positions where they believe they can continue to grow with that same idea. They compete in every Premier League season until the end, with merits that they have not always been given, but they clearly reflect their identity. We will have to take the game to where we think we can do damage. It is a wonderful stadium, with a crowd that pushes and a pace that is sure to be high.”
Diego Simeone on the game he expects
“It will surely be very intense, marked by their pressure in the opposition’s half, although they also know how to fall back. They are very good at recovery and transition, with speed on the wings and a very clear pattern of play. With what we have been working on, we will look to hurt them.”
Diego Simeone on defending Arsenal’s set pieces
“I see great ball strikers, tall players and very good headers. The number of goals they score this way is not normal, they work on it very carefully. It’s a huge strength. We won a lot of games that way in 2014, and it’s an option they also have.”
Diego Simeone on whether a draw is a good result
“If it’s like in 2018, when we played with ten men for 80 minutes, I would say yes.”
Diego Simeone on Alexander Sørloth’s lack of starts
“Other teammates are in the same situation. A team needs to maintain a certain stability, but it’s difficult for ours to have many players with few minutes. Except for Carlos Martín and Marc (Pubill), the others have played quite a lot. That’s what it’s all about: a lot of internal competition, different characteristics, and every game is different. The manager has a vision and understands that he needs certain qualities. Sørloth works hard and, hopefully, when his chance comes, whether it’s 10, 60 or 90 minutes, he’ll do very well.”
Diego Simeone on Mikel Arteta saying he would suit the Premier League
“I take each day as it comes. It’s an important opinion from a young person with a lot of experience, like Mikel already has. You never know what tomorrow will bring. Let’s hope we’re at the stadium and living in the present.”
