Simeone: We need to win to be where fans can dream | OneFootball

Simeone, very involved, analyzed the Atletico de Madrid – Union Saint-Gilloise match this Tuesday at the Metropolitano.

GRIEZMANN, A LEGEND WITH QUALITY MINUTES

“Griezmann the other day came in very well, as he should and as he always has. As a result, the team ended up finishing the match well with the teammates who came on in the final part of the game. His place, beyond the legend he will become, is the present. And the present must help us both on and off the field, just like Koke, Oblak, and Giménez do, who are the team captains.”

ANALYSIS OF THE OPPONENT

“It’s a team that changed coach three or four weeks ago. Looking at the Champions League, they competed very well with PSV, with another coach, and with Inter they competed very well until the first goal, from a set piece in the 40th minute. Then the game changed and that was favorable for Inter. A team with fast attackers, they usually play with a back five and we imagine something similar, waiting for the speed of their attackers. We’ll have to take the game to where we can hurt them.”

CRITICISM AT THE START OF THE SEASON

“It’s normal for criticism to appear, it’s logical and we are in a place where only winning counts. From winning, you have more or fewer reasons. After that, criticism will always exist and surrounds what we have. I have always seen the team searching as we progress, we keep trying to improve, we have room for improvement and as those who have arrived adapt, we will continue to evolve for the better.”

AFTER SO MANY YEARS, HOW MUCH DO YOU ENJOY WITH THE GROUP?

“With this group and with all the years I’ve been at the club. I feel grateful, happy, always with gratitude, first to the club and to the players for responding on the field with what they do. Day by day, in training we try to do the same in the best way possible, today one was missing and I don’t think I did so badly.”

WHAT DO YOU ASK OF THE FANS?

“We need to win, to be in the places the club seeks, the team needs, and the people get excited about, we need our people. The other day I said it in a club video, we need our people. They are very important when we play at home, we need their support.”

GIMÉNEZ, HIS IMPORTANCE AND PLAN TO AVOID INJURY

“We have to win tomorrow. Obviously, we will put in the players we believe are in condition to win tomorrow’s match.”

WHERE DOES BAENA PERFORM BEST?

“He has qualities that can help us in different areas, as we have tried to place him. When he plays as an inside midfielder, he has a unique vision of the game, when he’s closer to the striker he can score, when he can play on the wing, like with the national team, he has important one-on-one duels when the opponents are deep. He’s a player who came to help, we need him, we’re going to demand the most from him, because I’m convinced that everything he’s brought we can make even better than it is today.”

SPEECH FOR THIS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH

“We need the points in the Champions League and that brings you the commitment and responsibility for tomorrow’s match. We’re going to face a closed team, coming out with their fast wing-backs to try to complicate the game and knowing the need we have for the result, we’ll try to take it to where we can hurt them.”

IS IT NECESSARY TO WIN AND SCORE BIG IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?

“At first, the most important thing is to win. After that, anything else that can happen is better. But the important thing is to win.”

HOW IS BARRIOS DOING?

“There’s no need to describe him, just watch him. His importance in our team speaks for itself, whether as a midfielder or inside. He brings us energy, play, pressing, verticality, security in the middle, where we need legs to play and make the team play... He’s handling it in the best way, he’s growing and we need him to keep evolving. We’re going to demand more from him, as I said about Baena, a greater effort, because he still has more to give us and he wants to. When a player wants to and we want to help him, there’s a good connection and hopefully this can be seen on the field.”

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