Diego Simeone has told his Atletico Madrid players that their next League game, against Deportivo La Coruna, means more than the Champions League.
Cholo said at his pre-match Press conference that he could see how some of the squad could lower their guard against Depor, the fixture coming as it does between the two legs of the Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid.
But the Coach stressed how important he sees it is that Atleti retain third place and wants them to be in the position when they next meet Los Blancos, pointing out how quickly things can come and go.
“It’s logical that the enthusiasm generated [by the derby] leads the players not to value this match,” Simeone accepted, AS reports.
“The year we won the Europa League has passed, and the next year when we won the League, and the previous season when we struggled in the League and the Champions League. By Wednesday a thousand things could have happened in life.
“The time for the match in A Coruna isn’t good. The most important thing is to be third before the Champions League match.
“It’s key because we need to compete with Valencia and Sevilla in an extraordinary way. We have 66 points, which is hard, and there is a nice fight, with Sevilla winning in Europe and pulling Barcelona back from 0-2.
“Valencia don’t play in Europe and are at a very good level. We can’t lower our guard and it will be a nice fight between three to finish third in the League.”
