Simeone says Atlético need points before Manchester United visit
After a 2-1 loss at Liverpool, Atlético Madrid host Manchester United on Tuesday. Diego Simeone warned of United's strength and backed Ademola Lookman and Julián Álvarez.
Archive image · Photo: Carlos Delgado / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Atlético Madrid face pressure ahead of their first Champions League home game of the season. After a 2-1 opening defeat at Anfield, Diego Simeone's side host Manchester United at the Metropolitano on Tuesday at 9 p.m. local time. "Obviously we need points, like all teams do," Simeone said, according to EFE. "It's Manchester, a strong team, and we will have to take the game where we think we can hurt them."
Simeone also defended several players. "Strikers always need goals, not only him," he said of Julián Álvarez. He acknowledged that Ademola Lookman "is not where he wants to be and where we want to see him." He described Álex Baena as "world champion, confidence, security, great moment."
The Champions League final will be played at the Metropolitano. Asked about it, Simeone repeated his familiar motto: "We go game by game, that's where we are strong."