Simeone praises the spirit of Atlético after beating Barça

MADRID: Diego Simeone was finally able to savor a league win over Barcelona on Saturday in 10 seasons at the helm of Atlético de Madrid, but declined to discuss whether the 1-0 victory proved his team capable of winning the league.

The Argentine had enjoyed a triumph over Barça in the Champions League in 2014 and 2016 and this year’s Spanish Super Cup, but never before had he taken three points away from the Catalans since taking over Atleti in 2011.

“We have been very close to beating Barça before, we won it in Saudi Arabia, we had drawn in their field and lost a little earlier here. Today we have to win, but it will not change our goals one bit,” Simeone told reporters .

The manager dismissed comparisons between his current team and the team that led Barça to the Spanish title in 2014, but praised his players for how they have continued since they underwent profound changes in the summer of 2019.

“What we value the most is how the players have grown since last season, they are much better able to offer what the team needs,” he said.

“The group is in very good shape, I have said it for a long time and it gives us the conviction to continue working hard in what we are doing. Now we must maintain this energy and continue competing.”

The winner of the match, Yannick Carrasco, also avoided a question about Atlético’s title credentials, saying his team was only concentrating on Wednesday’s Champions League game against Lokomotiv Moscow.

But Captain Koke, the only surviving member of that team to win the title, did not completely dismiss the prospect, pointing to the early season problems Barca and champion Real Madrid were having.

“The teams at the top are failing right now, so why shouldn’t we dream of winning the League?” he said.

“But we are calm, because we have not achieved anything yet.”

(Report by Richard Martin; Editing by Grant McCool)