Simeone says Barrios must get closer to goal to keep improving

“Barrios needs to get closer to goal to keep growing”: after Atlético de Madrid beat Manchester United at the Metropolitano, Diego Simeone made that idea a focus of his post-match comments. The coach spoke to the media after the game and first answered questions from Movistar. No score is given here, but his team’s victory provided the setting for his remarks.

Simeone also addressed the loss of a family member of Koke. “The loss of a footballer’s family member, of someone like Koke, hurt us. But the boys played a great match. They were sensitive enough to show his shirt to remember him at that moment. We played an important match,” he said.

On Barrios, Simeone praised a good attacking transition and said the goal should help the player continue to develop. He described him as important and possessing strong qualities, including in one-on-one situations. Simeone added that those attributes do not always come through, although Barrios had found the net again, followed the play instinctively and benefited from a rebound. “It makes us happy,” he added, noting that Atlético needed the win.

Simeone also reacted to an interpretation of a rule: “Sometimes it is difficult to understand the rule. If it was interpreted that way, we have to accept it; discussing it will not change anything.”