Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone praised his squad after it opened the season with a 2-0 win over Málaga to kick off the 2026/27 campaign in LaLiga.
Speaking from the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Wednesday night, Simeone also was asked about the transfer market, and he responded “we’re always open to options. After 15 years, I’ll say I’m open until the transfer window closes, but that doesn’t mean I’m talking about any one specific player. That’s clear, right?
“The club is working to give us the
best tools, and let’s hope we can put together the best squad possible,” he said.
Diego Simeone on his favourite goal
“It would be unfair to Álex and Kang-in, because they were both incredible goals. Their goalkeeper had just made two fantastic saves, but that one was impossible to stop. I won’t pick one so they don’t get upset. They were both great goals, well-executed, we needed them.
“Málaga competed very well. We knew we’d start slow but finish strong. Our work in the first half was key to wearing them down, and the players who came on in the second half, with the quality we demand, were able to finish the job in the best possible way.”
Simeone on Kang-in’s debut
“He’s a player who has to do what the game calls for. When the team needs him, he’ll deliver, because he’s a committed player. We’ve seen that with his national team and his other clubs. He consistently gives his all, and the important thing is to help him reach his peak performance.”
Simeone on the players who came in
“We understood that the best way to approach the match was to play the players who were in the best form, which is why they started. They competed very well and steered the match in the right direction. We had a few situations in the final third that we could have handled better. In the second half, we started well, and with the substitutions, we made that leap in quality that the game demanded.”
Simeone on insulting chants directed at Julián
“We should be very respectful toward our people.”
Simeone on Baena
“I’m not looking for someone like Griezmann, everyone is different. Antoine had his own strengths; his teammates have their own qualities.
“Álex is in a groove right now. That amazing goal wasn’t a fluke, he put it right in the corner. He’s training very well; he’s fast and agile. He played in the World Cup, has only had a few days of preparation, and the energy you get from winning a World Cup is great. Hopefully we can take advantage of that.”
Simeone on whether his whole squad will be fit to start against Villarreal
“I don’t know.”
