Diego Simeone called for unity and more forwards after Atlético Madrid's controversial draw with Villarreal CF. The Argentine coach spoke following the 2-2 stalemate at the Estadio de la Cerámica, a match overshadowed by protests from the home fans against his player Julián Álvarez.
"I think I was pretty clear: we need to stick together," Simeone insisted in his post-match press conference. Reflecting on last season, he added that "when we did that, we were able to compete for important titles." The manager was also blunt about the team's needs: "We need forwards. We have them, and we have to take care of them."
The Julián Álvarez controversy
The sight of Julián Álvarez leaving the pitch alone and booed by the Yellow Submarine fans was one of the talking points. Simeone explained that the decision to keep him away from the supporters came from the club. "People at the club told me that the club decided he shouldn’t go near the stands or the fans." he stated. Regarding the player's mental state, El Cholo simply said: "I’m not going to answer all the questions about Julián. I understand the concern, and we can talk about what happened in the game."
Match analysis
Simeone gave a positive assessment of his team's performance in Vila-real. "My analysis is that the team controlled the match at all times and showed a strong defensive performance, working quite well despite Oblak’s saves," he evaluated. He acknowledged, however, mistakes in managing the lead. "In the second half, we picked up the pace and improved with the substitutions; we took the lead with a great goal by Pubill, but we needed to manage that time we spent ahead better." Atlético went ahead but ended up conceding the equaliser in the closing minutes.
The coach refused to comment on the penalty decisions, both given and not given, during the match. "I’m not going to dwell on the penalties, regardless of whether they were called or not, they’ve already been awarded." he said. He praised the work of substitutes like Giuliano and Pubill, and highlighted Grimaldo's full 90-minute shift.
Coping with absences
With Sørloth injured and Álvarez still working back to top form, Simeone had to improvise with Ademola Lookman as a false nine. The manager took responsibility for the Nigerian's below-par performance. "I want to apologize to Lookman. I know this isn’t his natural position."
Simeone believes the team's structure is solid and that togetherness will be key to challenging for trophies this season. "I like the team we have, we all need to stick together, and if we keep it that way, God willing, we might win a title," he concluded. Villarreal CF, meanwhile, pick up a valuable point in their push for European qualification. The Yellow Submarine's upcoming schedule is available on the fixtures page.
