Diego Simeone full of admiration for Barcelona ahead of LaLiga battle

Ahead of one of the most demanding fixtures of this LaLiga season, Atlético de Madrid coach Diego Simeone spoke to the media about his side’s upcoming visit to Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Asked if this was a good time to play Barcelona, given the form of both teams, Simeone insisted that “the match we’re expecting is very clear,” as he explained that Barça are “a team with an incredible attack, a well-positioned style of play and some very important individual players.

“We’ll have to be strong in that area to be able to compete, and we’ll have to take the game to where we think we can hurt them,” the coach said.

Diego Simeone on Hansi Flick’s praise for Atleti

“As I always say, I never comment on what others think. Everyone has their own opinion. When praise is obviously given, it seems nicer, but we continue with our own thinking, to keep improving as a team, to keep working so that we can evolve, and I think there is much more room for improvement than we are showing.”

Diego Simeone on the current level of Barcelona

“Well, as everyone can see, I think they are a team that has shown their style, their game, they don’t change their attacking strategy and their forward line as they have been using it. The truth is that it has given them great results and, well, we know that we are going to play against a team that can challenge us in a variety of ways and that we have to take it where we think we can hurt them.”

Diego Simeone on mistakes against Arsenal and Liverpool

“Every match is different, every match has its own flow, and tomorrow we’ll see how we perform in the match we find ourselves in.”

Diego Simeone on the importance of José María Giménez

“José María Giménez is very important to us, like many of the other lads we have in the team, and hopefully he can continue to perform at the level he’s showing.”

Diego Simeone on the designation of the referee

“I don’t usually comment on referees. I have a lot of respect for them and try to help them in every way we can, as we always have.”

Diego Simeone on the viral footage of a sad-looking Hansi Flick

“Well, it’s normal. I think we’re people, we’re human, we have feelings and emotions. It’s always easier to see and ask for things from the sidelines, but then playing isn’t so simple, and obviously playing so many games in a row and always having to give your all is even more complicated. And well, from our side, as we’re on the sidelines, we always want to see him do better, and obviously we hope for that.”

Diego Simeone on Marcos Llorente’s fitness and alternatives

“In principle, Marcos Llorente is still recovering, and Marc Pubill and Nahuel Molina are different players. Nahuel Molina is much more offensive, much more incisive and important in the final third from midfield onward, and Marc Pubill can give us alternatives to play at centre-back, as he did the other day, and give us another type of play for that position, which is also important, of course.”