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Although fans of the Spanish team Atlético Madrid expected them to defeat Leipzig, the Germans demonstrated that they are a team that many will have problems with this season. Of course, no one underestimated Leipzig, knowing that this team possesses quality, but Atlético's form and the advantage of playing at home gave fans confidence that their players would win and score the winning goal much earlier. Atlético Madrid did take the lead and dominated, but the circumstances were much tougher than anticipated. Leipzig's coach will need to make some changes moving forward, and while Simeone may be satisfied with the outcome, the question remains: is he really?
Diego Simeone was satisfied with the outcome, but not entirely with the fact that they had to wait until the last moment for the turnaround. However, he stated that the victory is what matters most.
The Argentine coach analyzed the opponent, carefully reviewing their previous performances, but it seemed that this wasn’t enough for his team to secure a convincing victory. Atlético Madrid struggled to find a solution to Leipzig's counterattacks. The speedy players of the German team showed their quality when it mattered most, yet it wasn’t enough for a win. Simeone emphasized the second half of the match, where they controlled the game, and he believes they deserved the victory.
"What happened in the match was quite expected. We controlled 80 percent of the game. We couldn’t stop the counterattack when they scored; they executed that play very well. After that, we found a way to stop their counters, and there were no more of them, allowing us to play more in their half. We had four situations where we could have scored, but we didn’t until Alvarez took the ball and started the play from which Griezmann scored. In the second half, it was more or less the same picture; we maintained control of the game. There was a moment between the 60th and 70th minutes when we had to adapt to the substitutions and the different rhythm, but Gallagher, Lino, Sörloth, and Nahuel gave us strength. We continued to attack, and then Hosemin scored for a deserved victory."
When asked if he ever worried about losing the win, Simeone stressed that they started the match with an offensive strategy because they knew Leipzig would use a 4-2-2-2 formation. This formation created space for players like Koke, Alvarez, and Griezmann. He noticed in the second half that they could apply even more pressure by bringing in fresh players. Conor added speed, Lino brought energy, and Sörloth gave them a stronger presence in the penalty area. Overall, they became more aggressive, which led to their goal.
Diego Simeone on Antoine Griezmann
Regarding Antoine Griezmann, Simeone praised his performance, saying he's crucial to the team. Griezmann has a unique ability to change the game, and the team needs to support him more to keep him engaged. When asked if Julián Alvarez should change positions, he firmly stated that Alvarez is a striker and there’s no reason to switch him. When the conversation shifted to whether he trusts Alvarez because of his different qualities, Simeone confirmed that he gives him playing time to let him demonstrate his talent. He said that while Alvarez and Sörloth may not score as much as they want right now, they’re working hard, and the goals will come.
Simeone wanted a different approach with Ángel Correa. The man who has been on the Atlético Madrid bench for years knows he needs to change some things to help each player perform at their best. Simeone has confidence in his team, believing they have the potential to win and achieve great things in the upcoming matches. His goal is to ensure Atlético finishes among the top eight teams, which would make their journey easier moving forward.
The Spanish team has achieved great results in the Champions League for years, and no one doubts they have the potential to make history again this season, just like they have in the past. It will be interesting to see what their capabilities are this time around.
"Griezmann started on the left, and Ángel on the right, to create more space for Koke and De Paul. Then we switched to a 5-3-2, with Griezmann in midfield and Correa up front. I liked what I saw."
Cholo didn’t want to comment on the goals.
"How far can we go? To Portugal, where we play Benfica in ten days. This format pushes us to win. Earlier, draws were enough; now you have to win. If we can’t do that, we need to find something else, but it’s clear that whoever has more victories will make it to the Top 8 and won’t have to play two matches."
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