Simeone refuses to look ahead to the Metropolitano final

“The Metropolitano final? We are strong when we take it one match at a time,” Diego Pablo Simeone said. The Atlético de Madrid coach brushed aside speculation about that final, directing attention instead to his team’s next match, against Manchester United on Tuesday, October 13, in the second round of the Champions League league phase.

Simeone said he understood the interest in a final being played at the Metropolitano, but stressed that it was important not to be distracted by a goal that remained far away. “Let’s not feed situations that are distant; let’s focus on one match at a time. That is where we are strong,” he said.

The upcoming fixture also matters in a competition where, in Simeone’s view, every chance to collect points counts. “You have to pick up points, whether in the first match or the last, at home or away,” he said, adding that all teams hoping to progress need them.

The challenge will be demanding against Manchester United. Simeone described an opponent that presses aggressively in the opposition half, moves intelligently and has quick players. Although, as he put it, the team’s results at the start of the season had mostly been draws, he still considers the English club a strong side, already producing some of what it showed last season.

The coach also warned that managing the match and the players’ efforts would be important. He wants to make the best choices and stay calm when managing those who start, because the game could be a long one. Finally, he stressed the value of balance between defence and attack: when the team works collectively, he said, it can achieve important things.