Diego Simeone was in a press conference ahead of the match with Granada. The Atletico Madrid coach said that it will be difficult to match the numbers of the first half of the campaign as the toughest games are at the back end of the season.
This weekend, Atletico Madrid travel to Los Carmenes stadium. 'Los colchoneros' are league leaders in La Liga. However, Simeone, as usual, wants to take it game by game and he does not want to get ahead of himself. The toughest games are still to come.
"It's very difficult to make an evaluation halfway through the season. The main thing are the objectives, how you finish. You only have to see how things have been going in such a competitive league like the Spanish one," he said ahead of the clash with Diego Martinez's Granada.
Simeone believes that the toughest fixtures have yet to come. "The opponents grow, they are very good and when the second half of the season comes around, everything is different. You start having to win games, emotions come to the fore, teams are looking to get into the Champions League, fight for the title or not get relegated... It's very difficult to match the numbers of the first half of the campaign in the second half of it. It doesn't happen often. This stage of the season is very demanding," he continued.
The Argentine is expecting a tough game against Granada: "You have to kill off the game against team which compete very well at home, they did so in the Copa del Rey and in the Europa League. Diego Martinez, their coach, has very clear plans and can play with different formations.
Hermoso will be back for Atletico for the match after testing negative for coronavirus. However, four players are unavailable due to COVID-19. "We manage it normally. We try and protect ourselves. We knew from the beginning the guts we weren't going to have and we took things into the training session which we think will be important in La Liga fixtures to come. On Mario's return, we'll decide whether he can start or whether he will come on in the second half." Simeone analysed.
Carrasco, also recovered, could play. "We are thinking of playing him through the right. He gives us continuity."
Lastly, Simeone was asked about Atletico's Champions League first leg with Chelsea being moved to Bucharest. "I'm not going to give my opinion. What I say won't change anything. We have to prepare, enjoy what we have to play wherever and on the date and time we are told," he concluded."