Simeone: “There’s a clear connection between Arbeloa and his players”

Diego Pablo Simeone spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s derby at the Bernabéu. The Atlético Madrid coach emphasized that “it’s an important match — a city rivalry between two teams who live side by side. Our fans get extremely excited for these games.”

Courtois and Oblak

“People lose out when two goalkeepers of that level aren’t on the field.”

Julián Álvarez

“He’s a person, and like anyone, he has great moments and others that aren’t as good. In the last few games, we’ve seen again what we saw before. That’s why, when his level dipped, we pushed him to get back to this version. We know the road is never straight — there are always curves. And you already know what I think when the curves come.”

Pressure

“It’s a match played with emotion and a lot of desire. We’ll try to do our best and bring the game to a place where we can hurt the opponent.”

Musso

“Juan has worked very well since the day he arrived. Not just on the field — his behavior in the locker room has been excellent. We’re very happy with him.”

Rest and rotation

“It’s something we’re focused on, and we’ll try to manage everything ahead of us in the best way possible, always looking out for what’s best for the team and the club.”

Arbeloa

“He’s doing a great job. The results speak for themselves. You can see the connection he has with the players. There’s an identity that matches what the coach wants and needs.”

Real Madrid

“You all see them more than we do. Their structure is the same, the players are the same. They work extremely well as a group — you saw it against City. They’ll continue like that, aiming, as always, to win everything.”

The game plan

“I don’t know yet. We’re thinking about different scenarios, where to put ourselves. We’ve had to rotate — Champions League, Copa, LaLiga… Everyone wants to play, they make it difficult for me. There’s huge excitement in the squad, and I hope I make the sharpest decisions possible.”

Obed

“A well‑mannered kid — humble, respectful, hardworking. These are important steps for his growth. The other day, when he started, he played a good match. Hopefully he keeps adapting to where he is.”

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