Simeone: "Diego Costa and Vitolo can play against Lleida"
The Atlético Madrid coach confirmed that the two new signings will travel to Lleida and could get a run out in the Copa del Rey Last 16 first leg.
Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone spoke ahead of the Copa del Rey tie against Lleida, the club's first game of 2018 and, notably, the first since the Fifa sanction was lifted.
Simeone on the transfers of Diego Costa and Vitolo
"Both he and Vitolo are eligible, the club confirmed to me, and they are part of the team. Therefore, they will both travel to Lleida.
The manager went further to state that Costa was an important part of the team and that they would be looking to find the best situation for him and for everyone else.
Simeone on the Costa-Griezmann connection
"We already know what Costa is like: aggressive, intense, deep, pulling the team to play between the lines... His greatest virtue is that he is an ideal teammate for the other attackers in the side. He can link up with them and transmits positive ideas. We have to balance his return with the collective work we have been doing for years, as well as with Vitolo."
Simeone on Vitolo's virtues
"He joins ups play very well. His combinative play will allow us better paths between defense and attack. He is different from Carrasco and Correa; they are more explosive, he is more positional. Little by little he will give us the role that we need. There is competition [in the squad]; players will go from playing to the stand, and from the stand to playing."
Simeone on players leaving
The manager was asked about some players who have been rumoured to leave the club. On Vietto he said that he had "talked to him," and that he "has good options to leave and I wish him all the best."
Regarding Gaitán he was open with a move stating "if he stays, I'll be happy, but obviously some of them have to leave."
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