Diego Simeone faced the press on Friday to preview Atletico Madrid's meeting with Levante on Saturday, while also commenting on the La Liga title race, fixture congestion, players in his squad and a new rule on post-match referee interviews. GOAL described Simeone as being two points off the summit.
Focus on Levante
Simeone opened his remarks on the Orda train accident and said Atletico Madrid stand alongside the families of the victims. He said: "It is a difficult time, and we stand alongside the families of the victims. It is a complicated moment that requires great respect from us, and we hope things will improve in the future."
On the match with Levante, Simeone said: "We need to produce a strong match against an opponent who plays well at home and has high spirits, and we must control the course of the match and inflict damage on them."
Schedule and title race
Asked how to maintain the level, Simeone said: "Reaching peak performance level in every match is extremely complicated. To achieve that, we must better manage our efforts, our substitutions, and how we motivate the players."
GOAL reported that a congested schedule will pit his team against Barcelona twice in less than a month, because league fixtures were rescheduled around February's Spanish Super Cup.
On the title race, Simeone said: "We will go through good times, bad times, and average times, for this is life. Whoever can overcome the difficult moments is the one who will compete for the title."
On the calendar, Simeone said: "This is what happens every year. Match dates are brought forward because of the Super Cup. I don't see it as complicated. It's just a situation resulting from fixture congestion."
Comments on players
Speaking about Morten Hjulmand, Simeone said he has the right personality to reach what he aspires to.
On Arnau, Simeone said he "works with great enthusiasm, and the leap from his previous level to his current one is not easy".
On Lookman, Simeone said: "We have great confidence in him, and we just have to trust in his development."
Referee interview rule
Simeone also made a sarcastic comment about referees giving media interviews after matches. GOAL said the change will begin after Atletico Madrid face Levante.
He said: "I hope they speak about me positively and that things go well."
