Simeone praises Atlético’s youngsters despite Sevilla defeat

Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone spoke to the press after his much-changed side lost 2-1 to Sevilla, with a side made up mostly of youngsters and reserves.

When directly asked if the result was due to Atlético focusing only on Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barcelona, Simeone was blunt: “No, no. Atlético didn’t win because Sevilla were more decisive.

“We have a plan. That doesn’t mean it will go well, it could go badly, but I have a plan and I’m not going to deviate from it,” Simeone said.

Diego Simeone on the result

“For me, age doesn’t matter. Some players understand the game, others don’t. We did more things right than wrong; the truth is that the opposition really needed the win. We competed very well, we couldn’t create as many goal-scoring opportunities as we’d have liked. We had far more possession than I would have preferred, I’d have preferred us to be direct and intense in our transitions, but we couldn’t manage it. We ended up with a narrow result that we could have drawn.”

Simeone on three debuts

“We started 1-0 down from a move that could have been better resolved, so it could have put us in an awkward position in the match, but that didn’t happen. The team stuck to what we’d prepared and aimed for: linking up, having the upper hand on the wings. The goal was a lovely one. That’s the part I’ll take away from it: coming back from 1-0 down after five minutes, given how the team competed. It makes me happy. We played the match just as I’d imagined, competing.”

Simeone on the penalty decision

“The referee interpreted it as he did. Explaining my opinion of what I saw makes no sense because it won’t change the penalty. There’s no point in giving an opinion.”

Simeone on two academy players connecting for the goal

“Above all, the way they made their debut, they showed character, intelligence, ability, and many positive qualities. That’s what stays with us; it’s etched in our minds. We must keep improving because you never know when opportunities will arise, but they can, and you have to be ready.”