“Julián Álvarez believes in himself because of his name, his hierarchy and his career”

The coach of Atlético de Madrid, Diego Pablo Simeone, has downplayed the scoring drought of Argentine forward Julián Álvarez and has stated that “he believes in himself because of his name, his hierarchy and his career”, in addition to emphasizing the importance of this Sunday’s match against RCD Mallorca, “a complex team” and that comes to the event “with an important need.”

“Are you seriously asking me? Julián Álvarez believes in himself, because of the name he has, because of the hierarchy he has, because of the career he has,” he declared at a press conference, before assessing the loss of Antoine Griezmann, who was injured in training on Friday. “The loss of a footballer like Antoine is felt, whether it is for him to play from the start or coming in as he was doing. He is a very important player for the team,” he noted.

The Argentine coach also revealed how the team is at the moment. “In the physical and mental aspect, I see the team in the search for what we want. There are times when it works out in our favor and there are times when it doesn’t, but the objective remains the same, to look for what we want, to have goal situations and defend better than we defend so that any minimal advantage can be worth it. That will make us grow as a team in general,” he stressed.

Furthermore, he considers that there is a lack of forcefulness at the top. “We explained it after Wednesday’s game. Interpreting that last stretch in the best way makes you different, and surely with work, with the energy and commitment that the team has, because it has it, we will find the paths that lead us to have the possibility of achieving it, which is what the game is about,” he said.

“The only thing that matters are the results. Then, everything that can happen along the way, are situations that can happen, with the departure of some footballer and with the arrival of another. But the only thing that interests everyone is the result, and the result hopefully will be positive. Tomorrow we are going to play with Mallorca, a complex team, which comes with an important need like us, it comes from winning an important match with Athletic. We will have to take the match to where we believe we can hurt them,” he said.

Regarding whether he will adjust his men in view of what is at stake next week in the Champions League, Simeone assured that they are “thinking only about Mallorca.” “We need to continue in the League at the same pace. For that we need to play an important game tomorrow, and I can’t get any other thought out of my head other than thinking about the Mallorca game,” he stated.

Regarding the Spanish international Robin Le Normand, he explained that “he is working very well.” “There is a very healthy competition in the central part, the four we have are very good footballers, plus the incorporation now of Clément -Lenglet-, who is already recovered. We always try to look for the best for the team,” he indicated.

In another vein, ‘Cholo’ spoke about how he faces the rest of the season having to deal with four fewer chips. “Normally we bring boys to compensate for those absences and we balance. If we have jobs in double positions we try to bring boys who can help us and who we understand that at some point they can help the club to compensate for that lack,” he said, without ruling out that the reserve team players could help them. “If the game asks for it and the coach understands that they can participate, of course they can. That’s why they are with us, otherwise they wouldn’t be there,” he expressed.