A goal from Griezmann closes a victory suffered from Atlético against Mallorca (2-0)

Diego Pablo Simeone attended the media at the press conference prior to the duel between Atlético de Madrid and Mallorca, corresponding to the day of LaLiga EA Sports. The Argentine coach made it clear that the team only thinks of the game against the Bermellones and avoided assessing the crossing of the Champions League against Manchester City.

Liga mentality: “We don’t think about anything else”

Simeone was blunt when discarding European distractions and focusing on the immediate:

“We are focused on tomorrow’s game, we do not think of anything else. It is an important game against a hard rival, with a strong defense and with an important offensive people. Beyond their last results, its season is very good.”

The Mallorca arrives in a bad dynamic, but the rojiblanco coach does not trust a team that knows how to close spaces and take advantage of the counterattack.

Atlético de Madrid press conferenceJavier LizónEFE agency

Champions format: “It forces you to always think about winning”

When asked about the new Champions League format, the Atlético coach recognized his intensity:

“It continually forces to think about winning. It reached up to the last minutes pending whether there was a goal or not to see how we were positioned. It is a first experience and we will see how it continues.”

However, he insisted that right now the priority is LaLiga and that he does not think about the tie until the time comes.

Need for more goals in the team

Atlético needs to improve its offensive capacity and Simeone is clear:

“It is clear that we need goals in all facets of the game, also of the defenders, especially in the stop ball. For that we have to create situations similar to those that appear in the games so that, from the repetition, they have peace of mind to solve them. “

This season, the rojiblanco team has depended too much on Griezmann and Morata, so it is vital that other positions contribute more in attack.

Options on the front: Sorloth, Correa and Griezmann

Simeone has several options for the attack and has not yet decided who will start with Mallorca:

“Sorloth already had 35 minutes the other day to feel inside the team after his short injury. We’ll see who starts tomorrow, Correa is fine; Griezmann, in his line; Sorloth is wanting … we’ll see.”

The Norwegian could return to the initial eleven, although Correa and Griezmann also have options, depending on the tactical approach.

Gallagher, key in the center of the field

The new signing of Atlético is leaving good feelings and Simeone hopes that it will continue with its progression:

“He brings work, the other day he entered the game very well in the second half. He helped us to continue competing well in ball recovery. He has arrived in the area, good shot, Timing with the goal … he showed it when he arrived and Now we need growth to continue. “

Gallagher has become a fundamental piece in the center of the mattress field and the Argentine coach trusts its immediate impact.

Strategy against Mallorca: defensive solidity and counterattacks

Simeone analyzed the Mallorca game and anticipated a complicated game, with a well -organized well -organized rival:

“I imagine that the opponent will play in 5-4-1 with Muriqi and possibly with Larin, another more speed striker to look for the counterattack. With fast band people and try to be strong defensively to take advantage of the air game and counterattack.”

Atlético will have to be patient and precise to break the Mallorcan defensive block, avoiding giving opportunities in rapid transitions.

To think about Mallorca before the derby

The technician was clear when asked about the possibility of reserving players thinking about the derby against Real Madrid:

“We think of tomorrow’s game, not the following week. And before we have a Cup. We will start with what we believe we can harm Mallorca.”

Atlético needs to add three and Simeone does not want his team to relax a second.