Simeone: “Madrid reminds me of the team we had with Costa, when they criticized us”

Diego Pablo Simeone never stitches without thread. The Argentine recognized the merits of Real Madrid in the derby played at the Metropolitano, but turned the praise he dedicated to Carlo Ancelotti’s team into a vindication of his own football postulates. «I am left with the feeling of not having lost the face of the game despite the 0-2. The forcefulness is wonderful and to see a team that defends low and goes on the counterattack like that… It reminds me of the team we had with Costa, when they criticized us then », pointed out the Atlético coach after praising his pupils for energy deployment.

«The footballers gave everything, they gave themselves well to the game. They have a very good direct game, a quick transition from defense to attack, forcefulness, orderly defense, they play well, take advantage of their chances… It’s a great job by the Madrid coach. They counterattack with significant speed, regardless of the talent they have. But I think we always try not to leave the game and in the second half we improve the intensity. I stay with that, when Cunha and Morata came in, who gave a little more life. But if against Madrid you don’t have intensity… », lamented Cholo.

He had good words for Griezmann, the great surprise in the mattress eleven. «We understood that Antoine could leave the start. He gave us a lot of work as a second striker trying to get down to associate, in the second half on the wing to play with two forwards. Important match, as several boys did », he said about the French attacker.

He had an impact on his team’s casualties in the rearguard, although he defended the work of the defenders he had against Real Madrid. «Savic and Josema are important. Today they played a good game within what we were looking for with duels that sometimes they resolve well and others badly. Let’s hope that Savic and Giménez can be with the team more this year because last season we suffered a lot. We hope to have them to have alternatives, “said Simeone.

He vindicated his team’s ability to fight, despite the fact that the results did not go as the Atlético coach would like. “We compete every game as always trying to give the maximum in each game and add the most. It is true that we have just lost two games in a row at home », he explained before calling to turn the page after the defeat against the neighbor from the capital. “We keep working and we look at Sevilla knowing what needs to be improved and what we do well,” he concluded.