Diego Simeone commented on his team ahead of the Champions League match against Manchester United, highlighting the difficulty of preparing after numerous international trips and the short window of time to organize the match against Alaves. “It was complicated to restart, but we managed to do what we wanted: a good game,” said the coach, who is leading Atlético Madrid in his sixteenth season.
Simeone also spoke about the evolution of the team. "Atlético is growing, it's a team under construction. Five new players have arrived and seven have left. The new ones are learning what it means to play for Atlético and we are progressing towards our goals," he explained. The coach underlined how the new signings are gradually integrating and that the team is consolidating its identity.
As for the transfer market, the focus has been on Jonathan David, the young Belgian striker who had a lackluster debut in Italy. Simeone explained how the decision to buy him arose from the positive impact the player had in a few matches: "He had an excellent impact with the team, three goals and an assist in four games. He has something special in his game that we didn't have, and he also does a great job on a defensive level."
The coach then revealed a curious detail about the scouting process: "We have seen many Juventus matches in the last year and also many matches with Lille in France. When David arrived, we told him that we didn't want the Juventus player, but the one who had done so well in France to get to play for Juventus." This phrase underlines the interest in the technical qualities and ability to adapt of the player, rather than in the name of the club of origin.
With the Champions League in sight and Atlético looking to consolidate their position in Spain, Simeone remains focused on continually improving the team. The next match against Manchester United represents an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the new team and to confirm the strategic direction that the manager has outlined for the season.