Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is set to hand striker Fernando Torres a starting place in Tuesday’s Champions League game with Rostov.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea man has started just one La Liga game this term but made the first XI in Europe against Bayern Munich and the match with Rostov two weeks ago.
However, Simeone told a Press conference he will select the experienced 32-year-old from the beginning for the clash with the Russians at the Vicente Calderon.
“Fernando is going to play and I also have one other situation to resolve,” the Argentine told a Press conference.
“The more expectations we place on him the better he responds, and few people do that. At a competitive level he is playing very well.
“He is also one of the few in our squad who has won this competition and is aware what it takes. That’s not to say he is always going to play in the Champions League and La Liga.
“I try to be wrong as little as possible, yet he certainly knows the competition and has to repeat what he did in Rostov. Therefore, that is why we are thinking of playing him from the start.”
A win would see Atleti through to the Last 16 and Simeone ran the rule over opponents Rostov.
“Rostov are a compact side that doesn’t concede or score many goals with a clear idea of what they want.
“They know how to make the most of their potential and I think this game will be similar to the one in Rostov in that we must come out with intensity to take the match where we want it to go.
“It doesn’t bother me that people are saying the game is already won, or that we are playing well, because football is open and every one of us can have an opinion.
“Our rivals made sure we didn’t have too many chances in Rostov and that means we have to compete with them, so it would be good to win,” concluded Simeone.
