[ad_1]
Atlético de Madrid coach Diego Simeone said he was not overly concerned about the high number of positive Covid-19 cases the team is experiencing after his team drew 2-2 to Celta de Vigo on Monday while losing. six players with infections.
La Liga leaders looked baffled in the first half when Celta took an early lead thanks to Santi Mina, but Atlético forward Luis Suárez scored on both sides of the break, only for Facundo Ferreyra to draw the visitors with a 89 minute goal.
“These are very difficult times for the world and for society and, while we try to take care of ourselves, the contagion is not only in Atlético, it is in society,” Simeone told reporters after the eight-game winning streak of his team.
“I don’t just look at what is happening in Atlético, I look at what is happening in society, because Atlético is part of society.”
Atleti has had 15 players tested positive for the virus since the pandemic wreaked havoc on world sport last March. Simeone missed part of the preseason campaign after becoming infected.
Midfielders Thomas Lemar and Héctor Herrera tested positive on the morning of the match, forcing the team to cancel the pre-match warm-up at the training ground and hold their regular meeting to prepare for the match over a video call.
Record signing Joao Félix and newcomer Moussa Dembele were among those missing after testing positive for the virus last week, adding to the absences of Mario Hermoso and Yannick Carrasco, who were infected in late January.
“You will have to ask the players if it affected them or not, but we prepared the game with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement,” said Simeone.
“We weren’t able to have a team meeting, so we set up the game through a call from Zoom and met for the game less than two hours early, but I saw a lot of positive things on the field.
“We had a great reaction in the second half after failing to dominate the game in the first and the players showed real determination to compete.”
The draw meant Atlético could only increase their lead over title rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid to eight points instead of 10, although they have a game in hand.
