Argentinian Diego Simeone, coach of Atlético Madrid, expressed his regret over his team not securing the win despite taking the lead, settling for a draw against Real Sociedad. He emphasized that missed opportunities were the main reason for dropping two important points in the La Liga race.

Simeone said: "We had to close out the match when we had the chance. If we had been more effective with four or five opportunities inside the penalty area, we wouldn't have left feeling this frustration after the draw."

He continued: "There were clear opportunities, including Connor's and Griezmann's shots, but football is unforgiving; if you don't score, you might concede a goal."

He added: "Álvarez knows he is not at his best, but he has given us a lot since he arrived. I don't see him as a player who doesn't run or lacks desire; this is just a phase that any player goes through."

He continued: "All the criticism is because he was at a very high level before, and he is the first to want to return to that level."

Simeone concluded his statements by saying: "What matters to me now is La Liga. We have 38 points, which may not be enough for our ambitions. If we want to compete until the end, we need to perform better in the second half of the season, because this number of points is barely enough to qualify for the Champions League."