Atlético de Madrid coach Diego Simeone faced reporters on the eve of tomorrow’s local derby clash at the Vicente Calderón. The coach attempted to shift the pressure from his players by playing down the chances of a home victory, arguing that it is Atleti’s in-form rivals who are the big favourites.
The favourites to win Sunday’s game: “The favourites are the ones who are top of the table, it’s only logical that the team which is top of the standings is the better side. You can say as many nice words about us as you like but deeds count, not words”.
Madrid’s moment of form: “For results – which is what you, the journalists value, and for the way they have been performing lately, we can say that we’ll be up against a Madrid side who are in their best moment”.
Madrid’s midweek Champions League game: “They put in a great game and they’ll be visiting the Vicente Calderón after an emphatic win; they are the league leaders and they’re hitting form. Right now, Madrid is the most-feared side in Europe”.
Madrid’s strong points: “The best thing about Real Madrid is how they play as a unit, they have some fantastic individual players who reinforce a side which is very well-balanced. If we play with intensity and focus, we’ll be in with a chance. We will be meeting one of our main rivals – one who is in a great moment of form and who, since November or December, have really blossomed”.
Previous meetings: “What has happened in the past is not a source of motivation for me”.
What if you manage to beat Madrid tomorrow? “We’ll be back at the top of the table”.
Tough week for Atleti after the defeat in Pamplona: “It’s always tough after a defeat, you just hope that you’re able to recover and can make up the points elsewhere to get back amongst the top positions. We’ve had a week to prepare for this game; all of our pain and anger has had time to disappear and now the optimism and expectation has returned. We knew right at the start of the season that, to get to this point, being three points off the top of the table in the best league in the world, we would need to pay at some point. And that is the situation we are in now”.
Atlético’s season so far: We knew that we would put in a decent campaign but what counts is how you end the season. We’re not only thinking about the present – we also know how important the remaining games will be for when we reach the end of the season. You, the media, will judge us on how we perform between now and the final day whether it be in the Champions League or in the league; we’re just hoping to do the best we can in this final stage of the campaign and for me, that’s all that matters”.
Criticism in the press: “To start talking about specific moments of the season, in January or February, would only be looking for excuses. I think the press should be critical. When you play well, the reports should be positive and vice versa when you play badly. There’s no point in getting upset if you receive bad press. You have to accept the reality of football and the media. As far as I am concerned, the only way forward is with hard work, humility, silence and after that, the good things will come”.
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