Simeone: «If God helps us, we can keep competing as we have been» | OneFootball

Simeone, after the international break, analyzed the situation of Atlético de Madrid and the injured players ahead of the league clash against FC Barcelona.

INJURED PLAYERS AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK

“The truth is that everyone is progressing in the best possible way. Oblak has already trained, he felt better, and the sensations are good. He will rejoin the group on Monday. Mendoza, like Oblak, will also return to the group on Monday. Pablo Barrios is progressing very, very well. Pubill is working according to what is needed so that, in the time he has ahead of him, he can get there in the best possible way. I have no doubt that all the players will gradually help us.”

FC BARCELONA, ONCE AGAIN

“I think football always comes down to the players, beyond the game plans and the coaches’ ideas… The ones who end up deciding these matches are the players’ quality and class. Barcelona have been playing in a certain way for two years now, and they’re doing it extraordinarily well, with their high defensive line, which won’t change, and their attacking positioning to thrive in one-on-one duels and, from there, attack. We have played with our own characteristics for fourteen years, and we will keep working in the best way possible to continue competing against them.”

DOES THIS CLASH TAKE ON EXTRA IMPORTANCE?

“It doesn’t take on any extra importance. It’s the same as every other match.”

JOHNNY’S INJURY AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

“Barcelona.”

HOW IS THE DRESSING ROOM?

“Good, with the same excitement as all season. We started preseason hoping to reach this point so we could compete for the places we want to reach. God willing, and if He helps us, we can compete as we have been doing from the beginning right through to the end.”

CHANTS IN THE NATIONAL TEAM MATCH

“I think it’s social and global. It’s not just Spain, or Argentina, or Brazil… Respect has been lost. The respect we had for our parents, our teachers, the police, the coach, presidents… Today it has been lost and we don’t have it anymore. We all have to work on it, with awareness and the vision that with faith, believing in God, and knowing that the path is to believe, to improve.”

DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT YOU ARE CALLED THE JUDGES OF THE LEAGUE?

“It doesn’t bother me.”

WHAT IS BARCELONA’S BIGGEST DANGER?

“All of their players, they are extraordinary. They have an incredible ability to play in the opposition half, taking away your time so you can’t think. They repeat it match after match, and it’s very difficult to do. They play with a high defensive line, with all the risks that entails, and they accept them. We will take the match where we believe we can hurt them.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.