Simeone: "We responded very well and played a very solid game"
The coach was happy with the three points earned at the Sanchez Pizjuan, but especially the way that team played.
Diego Pablo Simeone spoke in the press room at the Sanchez Pizjuan highlighting the great victory achieved by his team. The coach spoke of the importance of winning in the first league game and above all to beat a difficult opponent like Sevilla. After the meeting Simeone said: "It's very important to start winning and also at the Sanchez Pizjuan. I had a lot of respect for a team that has made a lot of changes but still has great players. We played at a high level during the match but we learned to wait and find holes to do them harm".
The coaching staff worked hard to study the Sevilla players, knowing that they play a certain style of play, very fast and combative and if you do not prepare well, they can really hurt you. Fortunately for us, Simeone knew how to find the holes that lead to the victory: "Sevilla this year is different, now they are very collective and combine well. We knew that the key was to close the middle of the field and be decisive in front of goal and we did that” said the coach.
This year Atletico have kept the same base and improve in certain. The Argentine remarked: "Keeping the structure of the previous years keeps us looking for the same goals, it is not easy because obviously when the league starts is hard to get going again, but the team was able to respond perfectly to what was asked of them. We played a particular match and knew to wait for the moment to hurt them. The way we responded especially in the second half was key. We were more aggressive and forceful in front of goal."
To conclude, he placed special emphasis on the man of the match and man of the moment, Diego Costa. Starting the campaign with two goals and creating constant danger to the home defence, Simeone was content: "Costa has had a very good preseason, he has worked hard and shown a lot of willingness, he knows he has to be physically strong always. He is very important for us because he transmits his character and its contagion to his teammates. The goals are a consequence of that." he concluded.
