Simeone talks ahead of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: “Have to take the game where we can hurt them”

With Barcelona trailing Atletico Madrid in the league standings, tomorrow’s encounter presents a lot on the line for the Catalan giants.

Barcelona are coming off a 2-1 win against FC Porto and will be aiming to extend their winning streak, having endured a rocky patch before the victory.

In the run-up to the match, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone gave his thoughts on the showdown.

Appreciating the strengths of Barcelona, Simeone said: “I’m expecting a good game, they have very good players, with very clear ideas in line with the team they have. We have to take the game where we can hurt them.”

When asked to speak about the difference in style between both Spanish heavyweights, Simeone refused to pay heed to the concept, simply stating:

“These things don’t take up my time; I understand that you value what you see and explain. They are just numbers. We imagine the ideal match, but there is a rival.”

Joao Felix was also the topic of discussion, as the Portuguese previously plied his trade under Simeone and ended up falling out with him, which led to his move to Barcelona.

When his name was brought up, the Atletico coach said, “I don’t talk about the guys who are not on my team.”

Simeone further talked about the spirits in which Barcelona arrives, claiming the importance of the game at hand for the Catalans.

“They are happy, content and looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, which is very important for them. We have to continue the line we are on,” he said.

The Argentine was also invited to express his opinion on whether Atletico Madrid have closed the distance with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 12 years, to which he replied:

“It is difficult to assess; Madrid and Barcelona always start with a greater chance of winning; we have reduced these situations based on actions and not words, we have reduced the distance that was enormous before.”

The face-off involving Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann has been garnering quite some attention, considering they have played for both clubs. Simeone commented on whether there was extra motivation from Griezmann and Joao in these games.

“In football, you can’t explain it by one game. What is important is continuity, sustaining a job, and having a history behind it and that is what counts. Everyone can play well in a match,” he stated.

Finally, the coach acknowledged the importance of the match, stating: “For us it is surely important; we value it from that side, as important as Almería will be next week. They will fight until the end to win the League because their history demands it. “It’s a tough rival that we haven’t beaten there yet.”

Source: AS