Diego Simeone has placed importance on Atletico Madrid starting their Europa League second leg at Rubin Kazan well.
Atleti are chasing a deficit in Russia this Thursday evening after last week’s 2-0 defeat at the Calderon.
For any hopes of turning things around in this Round of 32 meeting, El Cholo has commented that his team must be quick out of the traps.
“The important thing will be to perform well from the start. When you are at a disadvantage like we are the positive is that we’ve got time to turn it around,” Simeone told reporters in his pre-match conference.
“That's the feeling and the hope we have. The opponent was better than us in the first leg. By the second minute they had made four fouls and we had not done any.
“In their first attack they responded very well to get the goal and then defended with great strength. In the first half we did not play well but improved in the second and had our chances.
“We suffered with the last attack of the second last half.”
Simeone was asked of his possible team selection and on Radamel Falcao’s involvement.
“He really wanted to play and that makes us happy. He comes into this off the back of a goal at the weekend, he also got one against Rayo and hit the crossbar against Rubin. Hopefully he can have a good game. The tie is set up well.
“I think I'm in a place where I have to make decisions on the team. Since the beginning of the Europa League, Copa del Rey and the League we’re always looking to be competitive and we will be [today] again.
“Within the choice we made, we have sought to be a competitive team with people who have goal like Saul, Raul, Rodriguez, Adrian and Falcao, from that we will create possibilities in a game in which we believe that the game is obviously very favourable for our opponents.
“We are in Moscow with enthusiasm and hope to be in the game and that we might take something from it.”
