Atlético de Madridwith the Argentines Angel Correa, Rodrigo DePaul y Nahuel Molinaand the coach Diego Simeone, prepares for the most important game of the year. The draw for the quarterfinals of the Champions League equated it with Borussia Dortmundfrom Germany, whom he will receive this Wednesday from 4 p.m. (Argentina time) at the Metropolitan. Although many Colchoneros fans were happy for their rival, who is fifth in the Bundesliga, Cholo is not confident: “It is the team with the most intensity of the eight”he warned at the pre-match press conference.
For the clash against the Germans, Molina y By Paul will be starters, while Correa will wait on the substitute bench, a custom of this season: the former San Lorenzo has 25 games entering as a shock. Facing a match in which, a priori, he is obliged to win in order not to travel to Germany conditionally, Simeone entrusted himself to his two forwards: the French Antoine Griezmann and spanish Álvaro Morata. “In the last games, (Antoine) Griezmann was injured. It is difficult to demonstrate without playing. Against Inter he scored after making a great effort, he couldn’t start for Barcelona and had a good first half when he returned to Villarreal; little by little he is getting better. In the second half we needed a change in attack and Ángel (Correa) came in, who played a great game. We need the best Griezmann, without a doubt”, he stated about the French. And regarding his number 9, he said: “I absolutely trust Álvaro, he knows how to play these games and what the team needs and I am sure he will contribute what is needed of him.” Translated: Cholo is sure that Morata will convert against the Germans.
Atlético de Madrid will need goals and encouragement to cross that particular Rubicon called the quarterfinals of the Champions League. He hasn’t overcome that obstacle since the 16-17 season. For this, the support of its public at the Cívitas Metropolitano will be essential, where the team won 17 of its 19 games of the season. However, the record against German teams does not favor them: the mattress team They have not won any of the last five games against German teams, with two draws and three defeats.
“The most difficult rival is Borussia“, which has many good things, has not lost on the road for four months, has a great counterattack and great play in the areas, especially on offense,” Simeone stressed to the media. And he added in his analysis: “The intensity can also be read from the ball, We need to play an important game and our people, who are pushing us as always“, Cholo harangued. The coach also recalled that this is a decisive stretch of the season and assured that he intends to have all his players focused: “There is a very important week ahead, The group knows the importance of everyone being well.because we are going to need them all, and from there we will move forward.”
“Atlético is the team that scores the most goals”
Edin Terziccoach of the German team, praised Atlético de Madrid and filled his coach, the Argentine, with praise Diego Simeone: “I think that the way of playing or having achieved these results during the last ten years They have created a new way and art of defending”, he highlighted. And he added: “It is not something negative, it is in a positive way. In recent years we always talk about them, even if we have not faced each other, because They have stood out a lot in the way they approach the games. This is what we have prepared since Sunday, for these 180 minutes that we will play against Atlético. We know that this stadium (the Metropolitano) is difficult for any team in the world, but I am confident that with the intensity we have shown, tomorrow will be the proof of why we are among the eight best classified”Terzic foreshadowed.
The German coach later referred to the figure of Simeone: “He managed to position himself among the biggest teams, he had a phenomenal performance over many years and He has been an idol for us and for many teams. We know that tomorrow (this Wednesday) they will have an advantage by playing in this stadium and this atmosphere, but We want to get a good result and next Tuesday we will have the advantage of playing on our field. We want to give our best as we have done so many times,” Terzic was excited. Furthermore, he foresaw what it would be like for his team to be among the four best teams in the Champions League: “The feeling of the club will be more important than what I can say. It would help us show that Dortmund can also fight for the Champions League, there is no need to leave the club to achieve it. Two years ago I was here against Manchester City and I saw the spectacular atmosphere before and after the game and it will be difficult; We focus on doing the best we can.”