Simeone: Manchester United are a strong team, and our strength lies in this

Diego Simeone, the head coach of Atlético, has confirmed the difficulty of facing Manchester United, stressing the necessity of earning points in the UEFA Champions League. He emphasized that his team's strength lies in focusing on each match independently, without thinking about the final of the competition that may take place at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Simeone said: "We understand the difficulty of this competition, as this system forces you to gather points, whether in the first match or the last, at home or away. We need the points, like all teams that want to continue their journey in this competition."

Regarding the possibility of Atlético qualifying for the UEFA Champions League final at the Metropolitano Stadium, he said: "I understand the desire to focus on holding the final here, in the same stadium, but the reality is to deal with each match individually. We should not inflate matters that are still far away; instead, we must focus on each match individually, as this is where our strength lies."

In a statement about facing Manchester United, he said: "As I said on Saturday, we approached the match the way we should have played, and we delivered a good performance. Tomorrow, the opponent presses very well at our stadium, with intensity and correct movements, and they have fast players. Regardless of the results, which have seen a higher number of draws at the start of the season, they are showing the same level they displayed last year. It is Manchester United, a strong team."

Regarding what occupies his mind most before the match, he clarified: "It is about choosing the best possible players and remaining calm so that we can manage the participation of those who will start the match in the best way. The match will be long, and we need to manage our efforts well so that we can compete as required."

Regarding Julián Álvarez's situation, Atlético's coach said: "Strikers always need to score goals, and it's not just him. Aside from his finishing in front of goal, he is a team player who excels at linking up with his teammates and creating key passes, and he has many other qualities besides scoring. He performed well on Saturday, and his second half was good. We hope he reaches the level we all want to see him at."

Regarding Ademola Lookman and Alex Baena, he added: "Every player goes through different periods, and I don't think there is a player who always maintains the same level. Lookman is not in the state he wants to be in, or that we want to see him in, but he works daily. He is a player who excels in dribbling, and he needs to dribble and lose some balls, and he will perform well because he has these capabilities."

He continued: "As for Bayna, after a difficult season, he has gained confidence and reassurance. He is going through a wonderful period, and we must take advantage of that for the benefit of the team."

Speaking about the source of Atlético's strength, Simeone concluded his remarks by saying: "The balance between defense and attack has always been our strength; when the team works with a collective spirit, we can always achieve important things."