MADRID (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid won’t deviate from their normal type regardless of heavy criticism after they host Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final this week, coach Diego Simeone mentioned on Tuesday.
After shedding final week’s first leg 1-0 with an excessively defensive gameplan that yielded no makes an attempt on purpose, Atletico obtained loads of criticism, together with from former coach Arrigo Sacchi, who referred to as it “prehistoric soccer, from the ’60s.”
“Loose lips sink ships,” Simeone instructed a information convention when requested about Sacchi’s feedback.
“I’ve been teaching since 2005-06 and I favor to at all times respect my colleagues. But that’s at all times former gamers or coaches that resolve to run their mouths to get folks’s consideration. I simply ignore them.”
Simeone mentioned that his crew, who reached Champions League finals in 2014 and 2016, have an identification and can keep it up, regardless of having to win Wednesday’s recreation to qualify for the semi-finals.
“We’re up towards a crew that performs very effectively. An excellent positional recreation, however we’re hopeful. It’s clear that hope alone is not sufficient, however we’re going to strive to take the recreation the place we are able to harm them,” the Argentine added.
“Words do not say a lot, the necessary factor is what occurs after the recreation begins.”
Atletico captain Koke echoed his coaches feedback and insisted that the squad revelled in their robust, rugged enjoying type.
“We have been enjoying like this for a decade and we get pleasure from it,” the midfielder mentioned.
“We have a plan and we’ll at all times be inside this plan. We know the way City performs, you may’t give them area. Let folks say what they need. We play the method we play, we have now our plan and we’re going to proceed enjoying the method we play regardless of what the pundits recommend.”
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
