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SOCCER

Simeone sidesteps Van Basten’s criticism

The Atlético Madrid coach had complimentary things to say about Pep Guardiola’s City but wouldn’t comment on Van Basten’s comments about Atleti being dull to watch.

Update:
Soccer Football - Champions League - Atletico Madrid Press Conference - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 12, 2022 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone during the press conference REUTERS/Susana Vera
SUSANA VERAREUTERS

Atlético Madrid go into their Champions League quarter final return leg trailing Manchester City by one goal - a margin which coach Diego Simeone believes is slim enough to claw back. He was in confident mood on Tuesday when he spoke to the media about his team’s chances of winning tomorrow’s return leg and advancing to the semis. El Cholo was also asked for his opinion about UEFA’s decision to partially close off a section of the Wanda Metropolitano as punishment for “discriminatory behaviour” by travelling fans in the first leg - as well as his views on Marco van Basten’s swipe - the Dutchman claimed that Atleti were dull to watch and viewers were more likely to switch over to Netflix than watch João Félix and Antoine Griezmann defending for 90 minutes...

What do you think about UEFA’s ban which will affect 5,000 fans?

I’m reminded of what your colleague said about what happened to me the other week against Manchester United (Simeone was pelted by home fans as he ran towards the players’ tunnel). We trained yesterday evening and we would like people to be there. Hopefully it will all be resolved so that it’s equal for everyone.

Why have there been so many opinions from ex-players on Atlético’s style of play? Is it due to envy, fear, a lack of respect?

As I always say - since I started out in coaching around 2005/6 right up until today, I could never be disparaging about a fellow professional - never. Because I always put myself in the place of the coaches I am competing against. I understand that there are many different ways that people can express how they feel, what they believe and how they experience every game. So when someone is disdainful about a colleague, that’s something which I don’t agree with. As for the opinions of journalists, ex-players, people who don’t play the game and want to say something different... as my father used to say, the least said, the better. Talk is cheap and everyone can express an opinion. There are ways of doing it, and everyone is different in that regard, but for me, I would rather respect my fellow sportsmen -always.

What kind of game are you expecting?

Like we said in the run-up to the first leg - we are up against a side who play very good football. At a high rhythm, breaking quickly, using the small spaces in the best way possible... But we’re hopeful. From what we could have done in the first leg gives us hope - despite the result. And sure, you can’t do it on hope alone, you need to play well out on the pitch and try to take the game to where we want it to go, where we can punish them. And play. Words, everything we say today isn’t going to help us - what counts is what we do out there from kick-off.

One mistake proved costly in the first leg, will you manage the game differently this time?

We’re not going to veer to far from what we usually do - find the right moment to create chances. Hopefully we can pass the ball about a little better - and quicker, being more precise in our counter-attacks and that our players enjoy a fantastic night. We need to be motivated and put everything we’ve got into it - in one game, anything can happen.

Do you expect to see anything different from City, more attacking perhaps?

No, they play the same way regardless of who they are playing against. They have a philosophy which is ingrained, accepted and revered. They have great footballers and a great coach and I am not expecting anything else from them - what we see every time we put the television on to watch one of their games. A team which attacks, presses, string together rapid passing moves and it will be important what we do to counter that.

Going back to the incident at Old Trafford, do you think it was unfair the way it was investigated?

I’m in no position to act like a lawyer and decide what’s fair and what isn’t. I ran for the tunnel as I always do and I could see things flying in front of me but fortunately I wasn’t hit. As far as I know, nothing has happened.

Did watching the City-Liverpool game make you rethink your strategy at all?

We always have the same respect for all of our rivals. We watch all of the big games and City-Liverpool was fantastic, played out to the full, where each team had to seek refuge defensively for the attacking talents of the other. Two teams both in a fantastic moment, who play attractive football - and play well but that won’t change my thoughts about this game.