Simeone dismisses title talk after Atlético's perfect start
Atlético de Madrid are the only LaLiga team with a perfect record after three games but Diego Simeone is not getting carried away.
Diego Simeone dismissed talk of winning the LaLiga title after Atlético de Madrid preserved their 100 per cent record with a last-gasp comeback against Eibar. Atlético rallied from 2-0 down to dramatically prevail 3-2 over Eibar thanks to substitute Thomas Partey's 90th-minute winner in Madrid on Sunday.
Early goals by the visitors
Eibar threatened a sensational upset at Wanda Metropolitano, where goals from Charles and Anaitz Arbilla put the visitors in control after 19 minutes. However, João Félix and Vitolo helped restore parity by the 52nd minute before Thomas came off the bench to complete the fightback at the death. Atlético are the only team with three wins from three LaLiga matches heading into the international break but head coach Simeone is not getting carried away.
New faces
"No, there's a lot of new people in the team, we are rebuilding the team," Simeone told reporters when asked about the possibility of winning LaLiga. A lot of new players are getting used to our system, to the way that we work and we need to win, win, win another time. We have three new defenders this season and there is a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, eight players left, eight new ones have come in. Everybody is very excited but we have to stay quiet and work."
Atlético – who defied the odds to claim the league title in 2013-14 – are two points clear atop the table, four ahead of bitter rivals Real Madrid and five better off than defending champions Barcelona. The last time Atlético had nine points from nine to start the season, they captured the LaLiga trophy in 2014 but Simeone added: "We had Raúl [García], Tiago and Gabi in our team, now my players are very, very young. Thomas, João [Félix], [Renan] Lodi, Saúl [Ñíguez]. Back then when we won the league my players were better and now my team, we need to build it, we need to think that every game is a final."
Anoeta in a fortnight
Atlético will travel to face Real Sociedad on 14 September following the international break.