Diego Simeone insists Atlético Madrid “have areas to improve” despite five wins in a row

Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone sought to calm expectations as his team enjoy a five-game winning streak before taking on Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday.

“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, but the result, sometimes… Winning five games doesn’t mean we’re doing things very well, just well. Why? Because there are always mistakes in every phase of play, and there’s always an element of luck, like a goal not coming at the right moment,” Simeone said.

“I understand that taking the lead in games is working in our favour this year, and hopefully we can keep that under control, but overall, I realise we have areas to improve, both defensively and offensively,” he continued.

Simeone on the partnership between Alejandro Grimaldo and Álex Baena

“These are partnerships that develop over time, for example, on the right side, usually with Giuliano Simeone, Pablo Barrios, Marcos Llorente, or Marc Pubill when he plays there as a center back. But yes, Alejandro Grimaldo brings a lot to the attack, he allows us to attack down the middle and down the wings; he’s a winger playing as a fullback, and, well, we’re helping him grow defensively too, because he’ll get better at it. He’s fully committed to improving that aspect of his game and, obviously, helping the team just as he’s been doing.”

Simeone on the absences of Koke and Johnny Cardoso

“Tomorrow we won’t have Johnny Cardoso, and we won’t have Koke Resurrección, so that’s why we have squad depth, one whose true importance will become clear by the end of the season. We’re still in the process of building the team, as I keep saying, and, obviously, all these situations help us try to manage playing time as best as possible, always with winning the match as our top priority.”

Simeone on Espanyol and coach Manolo González

“I respect him as a coach. Espanyol has always competed very well. Last season, they started off very strong, then struggled to maintain consistency, but ended up finishing the season on a high note. They know how they play, and when a team knows how it plays, it’s clear that the coach plays a part in that. And Espanyol know how they plays; they do it well and score a lot of goals. If you look at their goal tally, they’ve scored 11 goals. It’s true they’ve also conceded 11, but they’re a very well-drilled, highly competitive team, and we’ve always found their stadium a tough place to play.”

Simeone on Koke’s personal and physical condition

“Yes, obviously he’s going through the process we all go through when you lose a family member. He was also dealing with some discomfort in his leg, and obviously, we decided not to take him for tomorrow’s game. But anyway, Koke is a strong guy, as I’ve been saying, and he’ll surely get through this difficult time in the best way possible with his family, who are a wonderful family.”

Simeone on Pablo Barrios’s ceiling

“He’s growing, in his search for what he wants. Let’s hope all this talk doesn’t weaken him, but rather that he knows we’re listening that he knows he’s a very important player for the team, and, from there, that he proves it, because, in the end, it’s the field that ultimately determines a player’s value. And Pablo Barrios is a very, very important player for us.”

Simeone on managing the substitutes and young players

“Yes, well, I think being on a top-tier team creates these situations. When you’re on a strong team, these situations arise where you also have to be prepared, because one day the coach will tell you, ‘You have to go on,’ and excuses like ‘I don’t play’ or ‘I haven’t played in a long time’ don’t count. The reality is training, because we’re always training and at their disposal: physical conditioning, technical preparation, making sure they’re always ready so that when it’s their turn to play, they can rise to the occasion. And, well, being at Atlético Madrid means being ready to step up when called upon.”