Simeone: “It’s going to be a beautiful qualifying round and it’ll be a very important match”

The Atlético coach commented on the duel between Argentinian coaches “as I said before, there will be an Argentinian coach in the semi-final, and that is good for Argentinian football. Both Gerardo and myself are behind what our players and our clubs require. Barcelona won the Spanish Supercup, on the final for the King’s Cup and is fighting for the League very close to us. On the other hand, since day one, we’ve tried little by little to mark our styles and livings of what Atlético of Madrid is. I don’t think there’s a specific thing we can gather of what we live in Argentina. You can on both of our personalities of what we lived in our country, of how we are”.

Regarding the importance of two players, one from each side, such as Messi and Diego Costa, the Atlético coach pointed out “as Ronaldo is for Real Madrid, Messi is for Barcelona, and Diego Costa is for us, they are highly important to each team, each with their own stile. Tomorrow, two to guys who are in a huge moment, will face each other. Diego with an incredible growth day by day and Messi is demonstrating that the month he’s rested was beneficial to him to get to the World Cup in a good shape, which is what we care for”.

We’re going to have the best Barcelona and we’re going to face them in the best possible way

 He commented “tomorrow’s will be the hardest match of this season. The first of the Supercup we played as locals. Afterwards, in Calderón, Messi just came back to play and tomorrow we’ll have the best Barcelona. I’m sure. It’s the Champions and a good opportunity for them, beyond what they say, they’re going to want to resolve here and not have to play the second leg. And we’re going to face it in the best possible way”.

When asked if he watched Boca-River, the Argentinian classic, he said “I couldn’t see it because it was my “teacher’s” birthday, ‘teacher’ Ortega. But I’m very happy for my son, who’s in the River team, competing, and it’s a good moment because he’s moving to the top of the table”.

Regarding who’s favourite in the qualifying round, Simeone said “I repeated what Gabi said last time. If we say we are favourites, we are arrogant and if they are, we are victims. I’m sure we’re going to compete against the best Barcelona we’ll face in these matches. I have no doubts. It’s going to be a beautiful qualifying round and it’ll be a very important match tomorrow”.

I have great players and great professionals who are very committed; a wonderful group of players

 He was very clear about his team “we have a game identity, which is that of Atlético of Madrid’s history. I have great players and great professionals who are very committed, which is what’s requested of them, and to continue the club’s history which was always defined by what we’ve done these past two and a half years”.

Regarding the use of Diego Costa on the right side-line, he said “we’re going to train now and see how the players are, and tomorrow noon we’ll decide. But we’re not going to change much”.

About the refereeing, he pointed out “I evaluate the referee as a person with lots of experience, talented and with great determination. But I always say that the important thing is not thinking about the referees but thinking about the rival, because the referee is there to decide what he sees. We hope he does the best possible job for him and for the teams. It’s going to be a beautiful match”.

Regarding his opinion about Iniesta, the coach said “my opinion is the best for all of us who like football. He’s extraordinary. He has personality, game, talent, vision of the game, speed, fast thinking, everything. He can play in different positions in the field. Lately, he’s been playing on the left, with more people in the centre and better guarding the team for my liking. And I imagine that tomorrow they’ll be a similar team to what we’re seeing”.

Regarding Barcelona, the Atlético coach said he had warned “in an interview for Radio Marca that people were worrying. They won the Supercup, they can win the King’s Cup, they can fight for the League and they can win the Champions’. And later, all the words spoken two weeks before can mean nothing. Im’s saying Barcelona is in top shape. They played a great game in Madrid and it gave them lots of strength and they’re used to that kind of games. I’ll repeat it, we’ll face the best Barcelona”.

To end, he praised his players saying "we got to the King’s Cup semi-final, we played the Spanish Supercup, we’re in the Champions quarter-finals, playing the League, and with players in their national teams. We have a wonderful group of players. We’ve been able to build a team and regardless of the work, they go on and on and that makes them stronger and more important”.