Simeone: "We’re fighting for what we want" | OneFootball

Simeone attended the press room at Cerro del Espino ahead of the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals between Atlético and Barcelona.

MANAGING THE GREAT ADVANTAGE

"We are thinking about the match we are going to face. We are going up against a very good opponent, with an offensive, open style of play, with personality, very good players, and a team play that has proven to be one of the most competitive in Europe and La Liga."

MUSSO'S PERFORMANCE

"I wouldn't go into detail about what you're talking about. I would speak much more deeply about Musso. He is an important player in the locker room, with personality, energy, vitality to help from his position. He is much more important than anything he can give us as a goalkeeper."

SCORING FIRST OR KEEPING A CLEAN SHEET

"We imagine the match as we always do against any opponent. The matches we have played against them, with the same mindset. We know their strengths, our possibilities to play the match we want to play, and there's not much more to it."

MOST IMPORTANT MATCH OF THE SEASON?

"For everyone who needs to fill space, there are plenty of spaces to fill. We focus on just one."

PEDRI AND RAPHINHA IN BARCELONA

"It's needless to say the importance of these two players, and tomorrow they will be there and do well, because they are two very good footballers."

COMMENTS ON ATLÉTICO AND LOSING THE 4-0 ADVANTAGE

"I don't comment on what others think."

MESSAGE TO THE PLAYERS AND THE MENTAL ASPECT

"As we do before any important match. We talk about everything, the match, the situations that may arise, and taking it to where we believe we can hurt them."

PERSONAL MOMENT

"When you start the preseason, you say: 'Hopefully in February or March, we are fighting for everything.' In the league, we are far, in the Cup and Champions, we are doing well, and all the scenarios of fear, possibility, whether it goes well or badly appear... We are fantastic in the place we are because we are fighting for what we want."

IN THESE MATCHES, DO YOU FEEL LIKE A FOOTBALLER?

"No, honestly, no. I gave everything as a footballer and have nothing to do again on a football field. But I do tell the guys that playing these kinds of matches is wonderful. You spend the whole season waiting for matches of this significance. You need to play with quality, talent, hierarchy, personality, enthusiasm, faith, and above all, determination."

WOULD YOU ACCEPT LOSING 3-0? YES OR NO?

"This can't be known before the match. We have to live with what happens, and I can't answer a question like that. We are not fortune-tellers, and we are guessing."

LAMINE YAMAL, HOW DO YOU STOP HIM?

"He is a very good individual player, disruptive in the final part of the game, and we have to take advantage of all the possibilities he gives us in the offensive part to attack in that area. Also, take him to the place where he doesn't feel so comfortable, which is defending."

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