Simeone: "Tomorrow is tough test, we need the support and strength of the supporters"
Diego Pablo Simeone appeared before the media in the press room at the Vicente Calderon after the last workout before facing Athletic Bilbao, a team with great players as Simeone said, who will make things difficult for them.
Simeone made it clear that the match against Athletic Bilbao will be one of the hardest and most difficult of the season. "We always go game by game. We’re coming up against a difficult opponent with great players and great coach. It will be a hard game which will need a lot of effort after the Granada. Bilbao is a very competitive team and as they are not playing in Europe they are able to prepare better, of course this week they have played the same games as us," he said.
With Alejandro Valverde as coach, Athletic have become a powerful rival who play great football due to the Bielsa legacy. "I think when a coach leaves his things are always engrained in the players. As a player I always felt every coach who I have worked with has shaped me and I’ve taken the best from each. Players who are at Athletic Bilbao today still do set moves especially on the right wing. It is down to the coach who is now in charge to take those good things Bielsa took last year," he said.
The coach from Buenos Aires was full of praise for Oscar, ‘The Professor' Ortega , one of the essential parts of this team. "’I’ve know him from the first time I was here at Atletico Madrid and again this second time. I found a great professional, and also a friend. One of the best things that happened to me as a coach is to have the professionalism that Ortega brings. This created communication and a way of working together that has allowed us to have good results."
Mario Suarez, Arda Turan and Aranzubía miss out of the squad due to physical problems. Simeone trusts his squad and what he wants is the players who have knocks to fully recover to be able to contribute when they play. "The important thing is that when they come back, they are well again. It is clear that when players are full fit they are at their best. When a player can not hit its best, we prefer them to get right to be at their best with nothing distracting them. We’ll be able to count on Leo tomorrow and that's good for the team because the players when on the field have to give 100%," he said.
