Diego Pablo Simeone attended a press conference ahead of the match against RC Celta de Vigo, where he reviewed the current situation of the team from Atlético ahead of the match. The red-and-white team arrives at Balaídos with three draws and three wins so far in the league. It is struggling to find some consistency at the start of the season.
In the Champions League they won at the end against Leipzig with a goal from Giménez , although the red-and-white team has not yet known defeat away from home. The coach referred to several cases: the lack of rest or the lack of goals from his forwards, something that has drawn a lot of attention from the colchoneros.
"They should be in the best condition for the matches, it is the players who can change this. The rest of us are here to support them," he said. Koke did not train today and is expected to miss the game at Balaidos, and the Argentine is considering giving him a rest so that he is fresh for the derby.
The only ones who can change this are the footballers
"The only ones who can make a direct change are the players. He explained clearly that, in order to stop the number of matches, only the players are the ones who can speak," he explained. The coach understands that there is room for improvement, against a rival that plays very well and that has always obtained positive results, referring to Celta .
"Our championship is about getting as many points as we can, and trying to get as far away as possible," said Simeone. Players like Julián Álvarez or Alexander Sorloth : "We would be more worried if they don't create scoring opportunities. The most important thing they have is goals and hard work."
Koke aims for a break
"It's normal that Atlético is put on a level with them, "in the years that I've been here, only we have competed against them," said Simeone. Now he is considering some changes ahead of the match against Celta de Vigo , where he has tried out without Koke , who will probably be given a rest. Rodrigo de Paul is not expected to start either, according to the Argentine's trials.
Antoine Griezmann would be in the starting eleven this time , after his rotation in Vallecas against the Rayista team. The Frenchman was not a starter, although Simeone had to pull him after the break in the match against the franjirrojos. Robin Le Normand also aims to start, along with José María Giménez .
Celta have lost three of their last four games, although they have won all of them at home. Their rivals have been Valencia, Valladolid and Deportivo Alavés . While the red-and-whites have won in Bilbao and drawn in Vallecas and Villarreal, Real Madrid won 3-2 yesterday and are already resting with the derby in mind. Not so Atlético , who have to play in Vigo .