Argentinian Diego Simeone, the coach of Atletico Madrid, talked about his team's match against Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Simeone said: "Lookman? His arrival had a very positive impact on the team, as he adds a new and strong addition to the attack, and he also significantly improves his defensive performance. We will see tomorrow if he recovers well, as he still feels some fatigue today, and we will see then if he will be able to recover or not."

He added: "Our fans are extremely happy to reach the semi-finals again. It is exceptional for Atletico to reach the semi-finals after nine years and for the fourth time since we have been here. This belief, enthusiasm, and energy created by our fans will be a strong motivation for us. It is a tough match, and we have a well-studied strategy, and we are determined to win."

He continued: "Dreaming of the final? Dreams are beautiful, but reality is what happens on the ground, and what we do and what God wants will happen."

He went on: "Tomorrow's match does not make me feel pressure but rather responsibility and excitement stemming from being close to a great goal that the club has never achieved before, and a special feeling of anticipation."

He confirmed: "But preparation for the match is the foundation. It is a football match, and the players are the ones who ultimately decide its results through their experience and diligence. We will prepare well to play the match we envision, and we will reach where we believe we can harm them."

He added: "Our weapon against Arsenal is what we have been doing in the cup eliminations and the UEFA Champions League, playing with enthusiasm, our style of play, seeking opportunities, and what the team possesses defensively, and this is the path we will follow."

He continued: "Does Atletico Madrid owe anyone a UEFA Champions League title? We are all human, and as humans, each of us has our opinion. Atletico does not owe anyone anything, as achievements are made through hard work."

Regarding the striker Sorloth, he said: "Sorloth is an amazing football player, scoring many goals year after year, and when he is at his best, he is decisive. We need him, as he did in the second half of the last match when he provided everything we needed from him, and he will certainly help us in the match."

He concluded his talk about the interest of several clubs in striker Julian Alvarez by saying: "I am not aware of what is going on in Julian Alvarez's mind, and it is natural for Arsenal, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain to want to sign an exceptional player like him. It is natural because he is a very good player."