Diego Simeone has looked to put the pressure heading into the Supercopa de Espana on Atletico Madrid’s opponents Barcelona.
Atleti play host to Barca on Wednesday evening for the season opener’s first leg, before returning to Camp Nou next Wednesday for the decisive second leg.
“Barcelona are certainly the better team,” began Simeone to reporters today.
“They have Messi, the best player and they have bought a player who may become the best in the world at Barcelona, Neymar, and they have Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Alexis…
“They have several players who are important and it is normal that they are favourites. And with their economic power they are able to assemble a team that has brought us joy, because it is a pleasure to watch this Barcelona. We will look to fight them with our weapons.
“Possession of the ball? On Sunday Sevilla had 63 per cent and we had 37 per cent. But we had more shots, more corners and more goals.
“Possession is always important, but with a definite end. We have a profile for less possession with the players that we have. Barca have more possession but also strength in attack. They are the inventors of this and others have copied them, sometimes just as well.
“I think the best thing going into a game is knowing your team’s strengths and your rival’s. They have many and we have ours and it is important that we use them.
“We must have patience, and be precise in taking our chances.”
Atleti have a new strike partnership this summer in David Villa and Diego Costa.
“I see them with much enthusiasm. They have had only two games together. They can do well. Adrian and Baptistao are also very good and that gives me great joy.
“The other day I had people very happy to come off the bench. All of them, Villa, Costa, Raul, Adrian, Baptistao, they have the ability to do things well.”
Simeone was asked of the expectancy at Atletico this season and if there is a pressure to win the Supercopa.
“The Supercopa is no more important for us than it is for them. These finals are important for everyone.
“Certainly they have the role as favourite and that will be more important to them with the obligation to win, and so in that sense it is more important to them.”
