As Atletico Madrid prepares for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona, manager Diego Simeone has revealed that a decision has not yet been made regarding the starting goalkeeper. The choice is between the experienced Jan Oblak, who has been sidelined for the past month but has returned to training, and Juan Musso. Atletico Madrid aims to defend their 2-0 lead from the first leg, secured at Camp Nou.
Simeone remained tight-lipped about the starting lineup, stating, “I’ve still not given the line-up. Normally we do it in the hotel, at around seven, half seven. So I still have time to decide.”
Atletico Madrid’s Match Strategy
The prevailing discussion among Atletico Madrid supporters centers on whether the team should adopt an aggressive attacking stance from the outset to exploit Barcelona’s high defensive line, or if a more cautious, risk-averse approach would be more prudent. Simeone emphasized the team’s clarity of purpose, stating, “We’re convinced of what we need to do, of what we’re going to look for. We’re going to look to come out on top. We’re going to play the game so that happens.” He further elaborated that the team has a well-defined plan, even if specifics are not disclosed. “We’ll play competing as we have done playing against them. We know what the opponent wants to do, they’re a good opponent, and we know the demands, but we’re clear on our objective, which is to get to the next round.”
Reflecting on potential game scenarios, Simeone noted, “The game that we’re imagining could be just that imagination. Then the game begins, and evidently everything we say could be left behind. Because if we think we’re going to press because we’re at home, and they play better, then it won’t happen. In the first 20 minutes, we were playing well, having more of the ball than it was thought we would, we circulated the ball, we were playing more in their half. We have faith, we hope to continue playing as we have done, and we’re sure of what we want.”
Atletico Madrid’s Defensive Challenges
Atletico Madrid faces defensive challenges due to the injuries of David Hancko and Jose Maria Gimenez, along with the suspension of Marc Pubill. This situation likely means Robin Le Normand and Clement Lenglet will form the central defensive partnership for the first time this season. Simeone expressed confidence in his defenders, stating, “There’s no need to speak to them, they know very clearly what they need to do. Robin has been growing game by game, as I said in the last press conference. Clement is a player with a lot of experience. He knows his virtues, his weaknesses, and we’re look to exploit what they do well for the good of the team.”
Koke: “We Have to Take the Ball Off Them and Want It”
Club captain Koke Resurreccion, speaking alongside Simeone, addressed concerns about potential distractions from the upcoming Copa del Rey final, stating, “Obviously it’s a game that could make history for the club. It’s a game to get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, and we’re focused on tomorrow, we’re not thinking about what could come after it. We’re going prepare for it like a final, as we do every game, and try to win it.”
Regarding the tactical approach, Koke urged his teammates to display courage and initiative. “It’s very important to be able to get out of their press, which is what they tend to do, that presses very high, they have their defence almost at the halfway line, to try and suffocate you. It’s about having personality, to offer for the ball, to make runs off them, and at this stage the two teams know each other perfectly. We have to take the ball off them, and we have to want the ball.”
Koke on Club’s Growth Under Diego Simeone
Koke deflected questions about his personal future but reflected on the significant growth of Atletico Madrid over the past decade. “Good question, my age. I’m older, but with the same excitement, the desire, to want to win every game. If you asked me nine years ago, I imagined the growth Atletico Madrid in those years, you never know where you’ll be, what can happen in minutes, hours, days. You always dream of being at the top level. For me, the club, playing a quarter-final of a Champions League is the top level, and I hope we can get to the semi-finals.”
Reflecting on Simeone’s tenure, during which Atletico Madrid has reached four Champions League quarter-finals, Koke expressed deep gratitude. “He knows everything. Thanks to him, we’ve had an enormous growth as a club, we’ve trusted him, we’ve fought to the death for him, and we continue to do so. And this level that the players are giving. For me, as a player, nobody has given me as much as he has, he bet on me from the first day, we’ve never crossed that line of manager-player, and that’s important for the growth of everyone. And he knows how much I love him as a manager and as a person. The things we have to say, we keep private, and he knows the affection I have for him.”
