Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has joked that “if Real Madrid lose then everyone’s happy” ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Barcelona in La Liga.
Los Colchoneros drew 1-1 with Barca in the final match of last season to become Spanish champions, but the roles will be reversed in the penultimate week of the current campaign, and the Coach sarcastically called on his side’s arch-rivals to do them both a favour against Espanyol.
“[What worries me] is that Barcelona are a very good team. There are so many things I could say about them, but I better be quiet,” he said at a Press conference.
“But we can’t think about that. We have to play every second [against them] as if it were the last.
“When you think [about their qualities], you block [positive thoughts], so I want us to go for it. My message to the players is: don’t think, just run.
“Without a doubt I’d have taken this season [before it began]. It’s always difficult to defend a title when you’re not used to doing so.
“Sevilla and Valencia are also having extraordinary seasons below us, so we’ve done well.
“[Mario] Mandzukic has scored 20 goals [this season] and Fernando [Torres has scored] six since January.
“We’ll start with Torres and hopefully he gives answers like he has done before in big games.
“When Juventus pass the group stage, they’re formidable. When we played them [in the group stage], I knew they’d go places.
“[On Carlo Ancelotti possibly leaving Real Madrid], he’s a great Coach. If [Madrid] let go of him, they’ll lose an important piece of their squad.
“As fate would have it, we meet again in times like this. But hey, if Madrid lose then everyone is happy!”
