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

Diego Simeone, the head coach of Atlético, has confirmed the difficulty of facing Manchester United, stressing the need to earn points in the UEFA Champions League. He emphasized that the strength of his team lies in focusing on each match independently, away from thoughts of the final 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 hosting the UEFA Champions League final at the Metropolitano Stadium, he stated: "I understand the desire to focus on holding the final here, at the stadium itself, but the reality is to deal with each match individually; we should not exaggerate matters that are still far away, but rather focus on each match individually, as this is where our strength lies."

In a statement about the match against Manchester United, he said: "As I mentioned on Saturday, we handled the game the way we should have played, and we delivered a good performance. As for tomorrow, the opponent presses very well at our stadium, with intensity and correct movements, and they have fast players. Aside from the results, which have seen a higher number of draws at the start of the season, they are showing the same level as last year; they are Manchester United, a strong team."

Regarding what occupies him most before the match, he explained: "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 have 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, he is a team player who excels at linking up with his teammates and creating key passes, and he has many other abilities 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."

Regarding the source of Atlético's strength, Simeone concluded his statements by saying: "Defensive and offensive balance has always been our strength; when the team works with a collective spirit, we are always able to achieve important things."