Diego Pablo Simeone shared his thoughts at the end of the match where his team beat Valencia 3-0. The red-white coach was happy with the outcome. He also praised the players' work, as well as the first official goals by Conor Gallagher and Julián Álvarez for the Colchoneros. The Argentine commented on the match with a goal by Conor Gallagher and was full of compliments for the English player.
"He is a hard-working player, with quality, a good presence, he recovers balls and never stops doing his best in every game situation in which he participates," he said. Simeone highlighted Gallagher: "Sometimes doing better and other times not so much. Perhaps, he's come with a lot of enthusiasm, and we need that kind of player in the midfield. That undoubtedly makes us better," said the Atlético coach.
Atlético de Madrid have kept four clean sheets in the league "Obviously I watch a lot of soccer, and almost all the games that are played; not all, but almost all of them. Except for Manchester City or Barcelona, there are few teams that put excessive pressure, being close to the goal line and that trying to defend in that position on the field," he said.
Simeone believes that they don't fit in much because they play the way it suits them
Simeone gave his version: "The majority, I would say 80 or 90 percent, take refuge and try to gather quality players, in any of the teams that can be considered important. Then they generate the quality they have, from the ball out and from the spaces, to work better. I have no doubt that each one looks for what suits them best, and I think that is why what I have just explained is happening," he commented.
"I think that the way his teammates celebrated and the way the people in the stadium cheered his goal speaks for itself. We all needed him to score a goal, so that he would be calmer, so that he would obviously be totally connected to what he likes, which is scoring goals. Well, hopefully it will be the first of many from now on," explained Simeone.
Griezmann can rotate
He thanked the substitutes for their work: "All those who have come on from the bench are responding very well, and that gives us the chance to compete in what we want. That is the greatest strength we have as a team: being able to bring out players who are waiting for their chance to show it, like in Bilbao . What they've shown today, with Espanyol and Girona , is that we work as a team," said Simeone.
Antoine Griezmann can rotate: "Against Espanyol , Antoine did not start; Julián started with Sorloth, and in the middlefield was Rodrigo, Koke and Lino. But well, Griezmann did not play that game, he did not start, so we have already been through that situation where Griezmann rests," he clarified.
He demands more from De Paul and praises Julián
He was hard on Rodrigo de Paul: "I saw him doing very well, that's why I obviously put him in from the start, you have to demand a lot from a world champion. It's normal, he was honest."
The moment of Julián's goal: "I'm not in Julián's league, I wasn't a striker when I played, but I can imagine myself in his place. He scores goals for a living, he lives for the enthusiasm of creating these kinds of situations. Today he appeared as he always does, at the least expected moment, right at the end of the match," he admitted.
He ended by praising forwardCalchín: "A play that seemed to be fading away, and suddenly, the players who are ready to be in the right place appear. Now we hope that he continues to grow," he explained.