Motivation no issue for Simeone

Diego Simeone has explained if he can’t motivate his Atletico Madrid players for their Champions League semi final he should leave the club.

Los Rojiblancos trail their city neighbours 3-0 from last week’s first leg at the Bernabeu before hosting them in the final European fixture at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday for a place against Juventus in next month’s final.

“The rivalry is part of the game and above all, people enjoy it,” Simeone told his pre-match press conference.

“In this competition with the intense rivalry between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, it’s no surprise. It’s also a game that the press take part in, it can be sold better and they can take their position either on one side or the other.

“Sincerely I believe that if I need to motivate my players for this game tomorrow then I really need to leave this place, this club.

“I believe the motivation is only to get up tomorrow morning and to start to look ahead at playing – I don’t believe there is a game similar to this.

“All games we know are difficult and Wednesday we have a very important rival who are leading the tie 3-0 and have also won two finals so we have our challenge and motivation.”

Tags Diego Simeone
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