Simeone: In the Madrid Derby, Self-Confidence is Key

This Sunday (17:15 CET), Atlético Madrid will host Real Madrid in the first Madrid derby of the La Liga season. At his press conference, "Los Colchoneros" coach Diego Simeone addressed several topics. Here's what he had to say:

The Concern
The derby is different. There's immense pressure and excitement due to the rivalry, due to the competitiveness we've managed to restore over the last 15 years. Confidence is a crucial asset in this match.

Key Factors for Winning the Match
It comes down to the characteristics of both teams. They will transition better than us, be more direct… They are powerful and strong players who operate that way. We need to read the game in the best possible way so that when we lose the ball, our opponents don't feel comfortable.

José Mourinho
I don't feel like talking about so many years ago. I have immense respect for Mourinho. I admire him, and he knows how much I value him. I hope we can compete in the way we have when we've faced each other.

Julián Álvarez
He will be with us. We will decide whether he starts or comes on in the second half.

Grimaldo
It's logical that his adaptation is gradual. He already took responsibility against Real Sociedad, converted the penalty, and then provided an assist… We need to help him defensively, and he needs to increase his effort to balance his attacking talent with his defensive actions. We need to help him, and he needs to help us.

On New Players in General
I'm not one to give advice. It's normal for new players to feel pressure. Because of the excitement such a match generates, calmness is also needed. Football is about calmness. The lads have talent. There's one word that defines everything: confidence.

Ademola Lookman
He has a player profile that we didn't possess before his arrival. He's the most disruptive player in one-on-one situations, and we need that. His attacking potential has helped us a lot since he arrived. His start to this season isn't what I would like, but he will prove himself because he possesses different qualities.

Atlético's Growth
It gives us the opportunity to have competition in midfield with Koke, Hjulmand, Cardoso… Each of them has different characteristics. I hope we make the right choice.

Madrid
The city is experiencing an incredible week. I was at Formula 1. I also went to Shakira. Now the derby is coming up. Madrid is growing. There's great energy.