Simeone pining hopes on Arda

Diego Simeone has admitted that Arda Turan will be pivotal to Atletico Madrid’s hopes against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Los Colchoneros kick off their last-16 tie at BayArena later this evening but may be forced to do without the Turkish midfielder, who took a blow to his right thigh against Almeria in La Liga at the weekend and has missed two subsequent training sessions.

“It’s a big game for us to try to take control of the ball. Bayer Leverkusen press high and well,” the Coach said at a Press conference.

“I see the team in good shape, with great enthusiasm. The match against Celta Vigo wasn’t good, but before and after we were always consistent, which is important.

“The demands on us are growing ever greater and permit you less room for error.

“If we enter the pitch knowing what type of game we have to play, we’ll approach the result which interests us.

“We’re not influenced by [Leverkusen’s] last two games but rather a period of four or five months. They’re a hard-working team with a great coach. Their best players have caught my attention.

“Hopefully Arda’s okay. When he plays, we play with certain characteristics. [We’ll adopt] other characteristics if he doesn’t, but he changes the team. Let's wait and see how he is.

“In the first leg of knockout ties, it’s important where you play.

“I don’t know if [we’re] more respected [in Europe] now. When the Champions League arrives, rivals prefer to face certain rivals before others.

“There is no other game [to think about, other than Wednesday’s]. What will happen will happen in consequence of what we do in the next game.

“History is beautiful, but it remains in the books.”

Tags Arda Turan Bayer Leverkusen Diego Simeone
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