Simeone: "Watching Atlético compete still inspires me"
Atlético's coach said he was happy with his team's performance in spite of the result. "Tomorrow, we'll start thinking about the Real Sociedad game".
Diego Pablo Simeone attended the media after his side played out a 0-0 draw at Camp Nou. The results leaves LaLiga in Real Madrid's hands but El Cholo says he won't be watching their meeting with Sevilla tomorrow night.
Atleti looked ambitious, will a point be enough to go on and win LaLiga?
We are in a fantastic title race with four teams hoping to enjoy a good end to the campaign. We came to Barcelona to put in a serious game and work as a team and we did that. The team worked well, we didn't get carried away, we maintained our game, were quick on the counter attack, won balls back in a brilliant first half, and the second half was more even. They had chances such as Dembélé's header and we had one through Carrasco which if he had shot earlier, would have been a clear chance to score. We will continue what we always do which is take one game at a time and not allow ourselves to veer away from that. Now it's time to relax, we will rest tomorrow and start preparing for the Real Sociedad game. Game by game.
What is a fair result? Who benefits from it the most?
I'm not going to get into that. We played a good game, Barcelona looked for ways to punish us, they are a great side with fantastic players- young players and Koeman is doing a great job after coming in which is always difficult. They won the Copa del Rey, they could win LaLiga, Madrid will compete as they always do and Sevilla will try and get more points with a win tomorrow.
Are you going home strengthened?
We have a path to follow and since I arrived in 2011, it has been about playing every game as though it were a final. We play some games better than others, with more intensity, but that's what we try to do. The only major success that we can achieve is be as competitive as we were on the first day I arrived as coach because watching Atlético Madrid compete inspires me as much now as it did then.
Will you be slipping on your old Sevilla shirt tomorrow night?
I'm not watching games, it's too much for me. And it won't change anything if I do watch, so I'd rather relax having dinner with the family. Apart from tomorrow's result, we have to put in a great game against Real Sociedad on Wednesday.