With the echoes of the cup derby on January 26 in which Atlético felt harmed by the arbitration (3-1 for Madrid at the Bernabeu) plus the still very recent Negreira issue (in which Atlético has also raised its voice to ask for explanations), Simeone went through the press conference prior to the Madrid derby, this time in the League and his message was very clear: “We expressed ourselves at the time with what Miguel Ángel Gil Marín commented and wrote (a statement in the that the favorable treatment towards Madrid was denounced, in the opinion of the colchoneros). In addition, what happened in Barcelona was not clear and we are waiting for everything to be fluid and healthy. We all live from this and we want to compete with the same possibilities ” he added.
After this barrage, Simeone ruled in favor of tomorrow’s referee: Gil Manzano. “We also had to win with him. We won in Cádiz. He has a responsibility in each game and he will do phenomenally. The players will help him and I hope he plays a good game. Every day they are more observed with the movement that is still not clear to us” .
The Atlético coach, who is in his worst campaign since sitting on the mattress bench, feels optimistic for tomorrow’s game: “The team is better and plays more as a team. We return with Koke in the middle, which It allowed us to transition better. We are trying to find a balance. Mario Hermoso’s growth is a consequence of what the team needs, not what Simeone needs”, he said.
Atlético now fights without the possibility of titles and to secure the Champions League zone: “Our idea is to compete in all matches. There are seasons where we can compete to win something and others that seem far away. Now we want to achieve the objectives of the club, which I think are not minor. We have to stop where we came from and where we are going. Continue as a club competing in a competition that is very good for us to continue growing. It is not less what we have left. Each game that one puts on the rojiblanca has to have illusion “, he affirmed.
Simeone praised Vinícius a lot: “I think his growth has been enormous. It’s a great bet that Real Madrid had and they improved all the numbers year after year. They’re in a great moment”.
The Argentine, as usual, did not give any clues about his team and whether youth player Pablo Barrios is going to play: “I don’t dwell on the details. I’m looking for what’s best for the game. We trained with Llorente in the middle, with Correa, Morata returned Also Memphis… We have alternatives for the midfield”.
Simeone did not want to clarify if he will continue next season, but he let it fall that he would like to continue: “First of all I am lucky and I have to be grateful to the club and to all those who have gone through the team. Without all these situations both for the club and for players, it is impossible to meet these numbers. I am grateful to all the players who came through the team. I am in the place I want to be and I am still very excited”, he commented.