Diego Simeone doesn’t believe Atletico Madrid are out of the Copa del Rey despite trailing Real Madrid 3-0 from the first leg.
The sides meet in the return bout on Tuesday night at Vicente Calderon and El Cholo told reporters that his team are not ready to accept they're beaten.
“In life nothing is impossible,” Simeone said at a Press conference.
“I hope there’s a lot of fans at the ground since it’s a great game to have.
“We’ll play the game we have to play, knowing it will be difficult. But there’s nothing impossible in life.
“We’re in the same situation in everything we do. We’re still thinking about a tie that was made difficult and we have to take it in a direction that’s good for us.”
Simeone also refused to reveal anything about his starting XI for the game, and declined to get embroiled in the debate about refereeing standards that has recently erupted.
“I only focus on my team, how we can improve and how we can win games,” the Argentine said.
“I’m of the view that everything else is just excuses. There are mistakes made that we can’t control and they have happened and will continue to happen because football is very fast and it’s difficult for referees.
“But we must think only of ourselves, try to improve, restore energy, play as a team, have more shots on goal and bring games to where we have more chances, by playing better.”
Atletico were knocked off the top of La Liga over the weekend after they lost to Almeria and Barcelona beat Sevilla, but Simeone doesn’t feel refereeing played a part in their tumble from top spot.
“We got into a very nice position, first in the League, up there with Madrid and Barcelona.
“We got there by working with humility.
“Referees can make a decision in your favour and the day it goes against us, I’m against criticising the decision.
“It’s football, it’s a game, we are all great and we all know what this game is about.”
