Atletico Madrid Coach Diego Simeone insists his side’s confidence hasn’t been knocked by losing to Olympiacos in the Champions League.
The League champions were beaten 3-2 in Greece in midweek only days after defeating Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu in the season’s first League derby.
It is the latter result on the mind of the players, Simeone claimed, when he spoke at a Press conference to preview the game against Celta Vigo.
“We’re preparing well, with confidence, having won at Real Madrid. We look forward to returning to play in front of our fans, our people,” he said, according to AS.
“But we play a great rival and we know it’s going to be difficult.
“Celta are a tough opponent. Nolito is important in the one-on-ones and we need to be very attentive in defence.
“It’s hard to defend by attacking. We will continue being a good defensive unit and attacking well. The opponent the other day really hurt us but it helps us to improve and grow.”
Simeone rotated his goalkeepers for the trip to Athens, dropping Miguel Angel Moya for Jan Oblak. Asked who will play against Celta, he confirmed it would be Moya.
“We have confidence in the goalkeepers,” he said.
“I always look at what the team is asking of me and how I read it. I can be wrong but I ignore feelings.
“For example, we play Valencia at 4pm on Saturday. I’m not complaining but it’s after a game on the Wednesday.
“I can see what this squad can do without leaving [the mindset of] game-by-game.
“When you lose normally it’s because you don’t play well. In attack [against Olympiacos] we had important actions but playing well is another thing.
“It may have seemed like we played well but to me we played badly and we’ll try to do better.”
Simeone, who confirmed Mario Mandzukic wouldn’t play having broken his nose against the Greeks, and declined to comment on Real Madrid’s start to the season, was willing to praise his Celta counterpart.
“I like Eduardo Berizzo, he did very well in Chile,” Cholo said of his compatriot.
“When he arrived we exchanged a few messages. The disciples of Marcelo Bielsa have a very similar idea but he has started very well, with players who are responding to him and have another opportunity to do so.”
