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ATLÉTICO’S COACH ATTENDED THE MEDIA

Simeone: "We give the qualifying match the importance it deserves"

Diego Pablo Simeone provided the starting 11 going up against the Catalans.

T. Calvo / PHOTO: A. Gutiérrez

Atlético’s coach commented on the incidents that occurred this past Sunday, that, "Firstly, I’m not a politician. Obviously, politicians can be solve this better. I am a coach, and we try to work on what we know, and that is football. I'll repeat once again that from where we stand, we condemn violence in every way and we hope that those who work on keeping the peace can resolve these situations that are obviously not good for society or for football."

Regrding his Golden Ball nomination as one of the three best coaches of the year, he said, "it is the result of the work of a very large group, the coaching staff, specially the football players and also of the Club leaders, who have trusted me with the opportunity to return to my home."

A to how he can motivate his players for the King's Cup, he commented, "it is a huge opportunity for the players who have less minutes and for others who need to play and beg to play. There isn't a better opportunity to show what they have than playing on the field tomorrow. We will build a competitive team that we think can play an important match and a qualifying match to which we give the importance it deserves.

Simeone revealed that Oblak Gámez, Giménez, Lucas, Siqueira, Gabi, Mario, Saúl, Cerci, Cristian Rodríguez and Raúl Jiménez will play on Wednesday.