Simeone: "We have ways to get out of difficult situations"
The Atletico coach said in the press room that victory in this tie is a triumph of team working with conviction and hard work every day. He also admitted that dead balls are a good tool in tough matches.
As always, Diego Pablo Simeone began with a brief summary of the game. "We started with five in the middle because Valencia is a team that plays very well, with many people in front of the ball and we tried to counter that with five in the middle. They tried to play out wide and get crosses in . The position of Michel, Javi Fuego and Parejo meant that Raul could compensate. In the first half it was a good game, we were comfortable in the second half when Valencia tried to find the goal, where they tried to attack, we defended well. I see the effort of these players and it makes me very happy because there is no one who does not work for the team," he said.
"It was a huge game where many doubt about how the players would be. They were faultless. There is great work done by the physiotherapists, doctors and ‘profs ' and all of them, because without ambition, without will and without meaning, we can not handle these rhythms of football, especially the commitment which is needed in these games. Playing better or worse there is always a team that responds in the important moments," admitted the Atletico coach.
Sosa was very active in its debut showing a willingness with hi teammate. "He's an important player for us, he will be gathering pace with the passage of time. He showed a couple of details, crosses from the right side. He can play in several places and will continue to grow in the coming days."
Courtois again was decisive with two good saves that prevented the Valencia goal. "I give the same value to the work of Courtois and Raul who scored twice and was decisive. We overcame a difficult tie against a team that plays very well and we put in a good performance considering the opponent in front of us."
The burden of so many matches is something the team must manage wisely and is doing a good job to date. "I think the club has done a great job keeping the same players. We work with the profi for two years and he knows every millimeter of detail and shows them. The burden of matches begins to appear but you play, rest and eat well. You have to learn to run, play as a team to run less and today we did that when we had to defend ourselves, split the effort and we made a great game," he said.