Simeone Emphasizes Patience for La Liga Title and Jokes About New Referees' Decision

Hours before a crucial match that could reshape the Spanish league standings, Diego Simeone, coach of Atlético Madrid, emphasized that winning the league title this season depends not only on playing better but on enduring more. In a press conference ahead of the important match against Levante scheduled for Saturday, Simeone highlighted the importance of managing effort to achieve optimal performance, stressing the need to organize substitutions and motivate players to maintain their level. The Argentine coach stated, "Reaching full performance in every match is very complex, so we must improve effort management, substitutions, and player motivation," adding, "We need to deliver a strong game against an opponent who plays at home with high spirit, and we must control the match and inflict damage." He reaffirmed his philosophy of "one match at a time," rejecting early focus on the league standings. On a human note, Simeone expressed condolences to the families affected by the Orda train accident, describing this as a difficult time requiring great respect. Regarding the title race, with his team just two points behind the leader, he summarized his philosophy: "We will go through good, bad, and average times; life is like that. Those who overcome difficult moments will compete for the title." Simeone addressed the tight schedule that will see his team face Barcelona twice in less than a month due to league adjustments for the Spanish Super Cup, considering this a normal situation caused by fixture congestion. He praised Portuguese player Morten Hjulmand for his great effort and competition with players like Koke, Barrios, and Carrasco, also acknowledging Mendoza and Opid's good performances, describing Hjulmand as having the right character to reach his ambitions. He defended young Arnau, calling him very enthusiastic and noting that his leap in performance is not easy, and expressed full confidence in Lukman despite him not being at his best currently. Simeone concluded the conference with a sarcastic comment on the new decision allowing referees to conduct media interviews after matches, hoping that reports about him will be positive and that everything will go smoothly.