Cities — Atlético Madrid head coach Diego Simeone praised his players’ determination and ability to keep fighting until the final moments after securing a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Espanyol in the Spanish league.
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Speaking after the match, Simeone discussed the difficulty of the encounter and the importance of regaining attacking effectiveness away from home. He also singled out Alex Baena and Jonathan David for praise, saying their performances reflected their true abilities.
Reflecting on the hard-earned victory, Simeone said: “We faced an organised, strong and committed team that defended every ball as if it were the last of the match. We created scoring opportunities, but we lacked the accuracy needed to finish them.”
He added: “In matches like these, you face an opponent who knows that, in the end, you will lose your composure or become frustrated after repeated attempts that fail to produce a result.”
The Argentine coach explained that his team continued searching for a goal in the second half. “The second half was similar to the first. Julián, Marcos and David had chances, but we were unable to take advantage of them,” he said.
He continued: “Then came the decisive moment from a move that was completely unexpected. They were pressing us high up the pitch, but we managed to find the available player, and Julián appeared.”
Simeone described the moment before the goal: “At that point, it felt as though the match had stopped. Even before he struck the ball, we knew it would be a goal.”
He stressed that victories of this kind give the team a significant psychological boost, adding: “This strengthens our confidence in what the team is doing and gives us the strength to keep fighting until the end.”
Simeone also expressed his admiration for the progress made by Spanish midfielder Alex Baena, saying the player had rediscovered his form after struggling with injuries last season.
“We can clearly see that. He is performing extremely well individually. He started last season well, but injuries later prevented him from reaching his best form and having the season he had hoped for,” Simeone said.
He noted that Baena’s participation in the World Cup had brought an important change in his personality and playing style. “The World Cup took him to a different level. He sees football differently from others, and he has become more confident and stronger,” he added.
Simeone emphasised that Baena was now performing at the level that had prompted the club to sign him, saying: “This is the player we went out to find and bring to the club.”
Source: Agencies
