Simeone: “The hope is always high and the faith is even higher”

The Atlético de Madrid coach, Diego Pablo Simeone, has assured that the team’s “excitement” is “always high” and “the faith is even higher” ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Arsenal, in addition to acknowledging that he feels “at peace”, although he has appealed to focus on this Saturday’s match against Valencia in Mestalla.

“The hope is always high and the faith is even higher,” he declared at a press conference, urging not to focus yet on Tuesday’s duel in London. “We have to think about tomorrow’s game, about the importance of trying to catch up with Villarreal, who are ahead of us. It is going to be an important game with a team that needs points, that is going to play with the pressure of its people and with the intensity that Valencia has had since its coach arrived,” he noted.

However, he did not hide how he feels in this final stretch of the season. “I feel at peace. I know that I am giving my all, I know that my players are giving their all, and that is what I need, to see that energy that goes hand in hand with what we have been working on for 14 years on a long path, with many difficulties. It is very difficult to get to the places where we are and compete as we compete this season. It is a gift that the team gives to the team and I hope that we can carry it forward until the end,” he wished.

He also acknowledged the team’s wear and tear after the first game against the Gunners. “It is clear that if he had not started on Tuesday, Julián possibly would not have arrived on Saturday, Sorloth would not have arrived on Saturday, Giuliano would not have arrived on Saturday, Barrios would not have arrived on Saturday, José would not have arrived on Saturday… We are going to go with those who are best to compete tomorrow,” he stressed.

In this sense, he announced that there will be rotations. “It’s just that the form of the players demands it. These guys the other day ended up with discomfort and obviously we are going to go to the side where there are fresh people to be able to compete, which is what matters to us,” he said, before talking about those who have the least minutes.

“I expect many things. Why? Because they have the responsibility of being at Atlético de Madrid, and they have the opportunity to show why they are at Atlético de Madrid. If it is the turn of one of the boys who have been helping us lately to play, it is one more step to assert why they are close to the first team. There are positive situations to look at, a lot,” he expressed.

The Argentine coach also spoke about his compatriot Thiago Almada. “Thiago is a very important player for us. We were chatting very recently, when training ended, about his conditions, his work during the season with us, and the important thing is that he responds, whether it be 20 minutes, 60 or 90. Let’s hope that tomorrow he plays a game with the hierarchy he has,” he said.

Finally, ‘Cholo’ analyzed the state of the youth players. “It is not so easy to say that they are ready to accompany the team completely. There are previous steps, as they all did, in the process of going from B to playing in the First Division. But there are boys who show quality. I always say that there is no age in football, but rather there is hierarchy, personality, enthusiasm, faith in what one has. And there are boys who, the truth is, show important things. And the good thing will be that when it is their turn to play, they show it on the field,” he concluded.