Diego Pablo Simeone spoke to the media on Monday ahead of Atlético Madrid’s visit to Osasuna and made it clear that his team still holds competitive ambition in the final stretch of LaLiga.
The Argentine coach confirmed that finishing third remains a realistic goal despite a tough schedule. “Everything is real. There is a small chance over these three matchdays to reach Villarreal with the possibility of fighting for third place,” Simeone explained.
He also hinted that academy players will get opportunities in Pamplona. “We will always try to put out the best possible team, and I’m sure some youngsters will also take part and seize the wonderful chance to play with the first team,” he said.
When asked about the group’s motivation at this stage of the season, Simeone appealed to the natural competitive spirit of footballers. “It’s like when you play with your friends—you want to win. That’s the drive this sport gives you. Even at an amateur level, you play to win and have fun,” he commented.
Pressed on the lessons from this season, the manager avoided diving into analysis. “It would be better to answer that another time, but I won’t explain it now because experts would say they’re just excuses,” he noted.
Regarding Koke Resurrección’s future, Simeone dodged specifics. “I promise that as soon as I speak with him, I’ll say it. Let’s move on to another question,” he replied with a smile.
He did confirm better news about José María Giménez, who was injured in the match against Celta Vigo. “Fortunately, it’s only an ankle sprain, and we hope he can arrive strong for the World Cup to compete for Uruguay as he deserves.”
Diego Simeone also reflected on the accumulation of matches and the physical toll on players. He lamented that top stars could reach the World Cup in poor condition. “I was talking with people in football, and it’s a big shame that players like Lamine Yamal might be in danger of not being fit. The World Cup means so much, and players arrive in very tight shape. I think this should be looked at—it’s not a minor detail that these players aren’t at their best.”
On whether the dressing room’s identity would change if Antoine Griezmann leaves, the coach was clear: “No, these are cycles that change, and the squad has to go through them. The players who come will occupy an important place.”
Finally, Simeone praised LaLiga champion FC Barcelona. “Barcelona is the best-playing team in the world. They won the league playing very well, just like last season,” he stated, before proudly recalling having eliminated the Catalan side twice this season. “And the only thing I thought while watching the match was: ‘We eliminated this team twice, my God!’”
