Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone has previewed the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg against Tottenham.
Simeone explained how his side would handle their 5-2 lead from the first leg.
Simeone insisted that Atlético “need to play the match where it is,” highlighting that “there’s a three-goal difference and we need to get the result.
Simeone’s Attacking Strategy
“The best thing is to score first to put them in a more uncomfortable position,” Simeone explained.
“We always talk about the same thing: we try to carry on playing the way we started at the Metropolitano, and there will be different situations that allow us to execute our game plan.”
“We’ll keep competing in the same way. Sometimes we’ll go further, sometimes we won’t, but the competitive edge remains, and we hope to take the match to where we can hurt them. They’re an intense side, buoyed by the enthusiasm of their fans who’ll be there from the start, and the excitement the competition brings. We’re playing against all of that.”
“I don’t dwell on the number of goals to be objective or not. A team tries to be complete, and whether it succeeds or not depends on its attacking and defensive strength.”
Praise for Key Players
“You know how much I trust and believe in him. He’s a player I trust, and I want him to play many more matches here and keep adding to those numbers.”
“Juan and I are always in touch. Not just because he might start tomorrow. He’s someone who has settled into the squad very well, and hopefully he can maintain his form because he’s doing very well at the moment.”
“We’re fully aware of the reality. And we’re the architects of our own reality.”
“We’ve always had strong goalkeepers and the lads have given us everything they’ve got. Today Juan is performing as expected and we’re pleased with his work.”
“He’s important in any match, not just against the English sides. His form has gone from strength to strength. He wasn’t even in the squad when he first arrived, but he competed and proved he was ready for this huge step from that La Liga title-winning year to today, and he’s absolutely vital within the squad we have.”
“As an Argentina fan, I admire his personality, his playing style and his defensive work. And certainly, as a fan who has watched more matches with the national team than with Tottenham, I am clearly a fan of his.”
Cardoso’s Perspective
The other representative put forward to face the media was American midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
“It was a tough start, with a couple of injuries, but I’m feeling great now. I can tell I’m making a contribution and helping the team. I know I can do a lot more for my teammates and the coaching staff, and that’s my goal.”
“We’re not taking the lead for granted. We’re a very intense team and we’re here to win the match. They’re an opponent who haven’t conceded or lost at home in the Champions League, and we’re here to win the match.”
“We can take a lot of lessons from that match (against Barcelona at Camp Nou). We’ve worked hard, we know the mistakes we made and what we can improve for this mat