"Strikers go through different stages and we need the best Morata"

A step away from mathematically sealing qualification for the Champions League, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone on Tuesday considered the question of whether the club should rethink its objective and aspire to more than just a place in the Champions League each season to be "an interesting question for another time, and not with little time to go".

"As I always live on what is going to happen today, possibly if you repeat it to me again we can talk a bit more in depth about something that I understand as an interesting question, for sure," replied Simeone, who has qualified for the Champions League in each of his 11 full seasons in charge of the 'Colchoneros' and is on the verge of doing so this season for the 12th year. He has two points left to ratify it mathematically. 

"We need to continue in the same line of work and we will see how they train now. We still have until ten o'clock tomorrow night. That's plenty of time to think and choose those who we think will be able to compete as the match demands", he warned.

Getafe host them at the Coliseum on Wednesday. "A tough game, with a rival that has always competed very well, with the characteristics of their coach, who always makes it difficult, with a team that has improved offensively above all", analysed Simeone, who was praised on Tuesday by his counterpart Jose Bordalas.

After avoiding talking about whether the time will come for more minutes for Arthur Vermeeren in this final stretch of the season, after playing just three games since his signing in the winter transfer window. "I understand the question, but the only thing that matters to me is the Getafe game and trying to do the best we can," he said.

Simeone added that he sees Alvaro Morata with the "same enthusiasm and excitement as always". "Strikers, like any footballer, go through better or not stages, and we need the best Morata. Hopefully we can have him at the end of the season," added Simeone, who is awaiting the recovery of his players after Sunday's clash against Celta, with "an important victory", to put together his line-up for the visit to Getafe.

 

May 15, 2024