Diego Simeone Prepares Atlético Madrid for Osasuna Clash
Diego Simeone walked into the press room with the look of a man who has heard enough. On the eve of a demanding La Liga test against Osasuna, the Atlético Madrid coach used his appearance not just to update on injuries, but to fire back at the criticism swirling around his team.
No Julian Alvarez for Osasuna
The first big question was the one everyone expected: would striker Julian Alvarez make it in time?
Simeone shut that down quickly, as relayed from his discussion with the medical staff. “Based on what we discussed with the medical staff, he is still in the recovery phase, and he will not be available for tomorrow's match,” he confirmed. No suspense, no half-promises. Alvarez is out.
Attention then turned to the man who might carry the attacking load instead: Jonathan David. The Canadian forward impressed in Atlético’s last outing, and Simeone made it clear he is firmly in the frame.
“Jonathan came into the last match very well,” he said. “We will assess whether he will start or come on in the second half, and we will make that decision tomorrow morning.” The choice up front, at least publicly, remains open.
Criticism, fatigue and a familiar siege mentality
Atlético have taken six points from a possible nine away from home, yet the noise around the club has been dominated by doubts and complaints. Simeone did not shy away from that tension.
“At first, I was not talking about the fixtures but about the rest period,” he clarified, referring to recent remarks that sparked debate. “We returned late from San Sebastian and from the Champions League, and that is natural.”
Then came the familiar Simeone edge.
“We have become used to the negativity coming from some, so as soon as any opportunity for criticism appears we find it present, but this is part of the development, and so we welcome it.”
He is not backing down. If anything, he is using the criticism as fuel.
A team “under construction”
The Argentine then pulled the lens back to explain where he believes Atlético really are as a group.
“We are a team under construction. 7 players left and 5 new players joined, in addition to several elements from the academy, and the matter is not as simple as it appears,” he said.
This is not the finished article, and Simeone knows it.
“But we are a competitive team and we will continue to improve as we play matches. That is what I feel, we are in the building phase and we need the time that the world of football does not give you.”
Time is the one luxury top clubs rarely receive. Simeone is asking for it anyway, even as he insists on competitiveness in the present.
Call to arms for the Metropolitano
With Osasuna visiting and both sides needing a result, Simeone turned his message directly to the stands.
“What we need is to put in a strong match against an opponent going through the same need as us,” he said. “We need the energy of the fans and for the players to translate that on the pitch, as we are coming from a difficult match and we hope to find the same usual enthusiastic atmosphere.”
The demand is clear: noise, intensity, unity. The rest, in his view, the players must provide.
Mourinho, penalties and a brief smile
There was a lighter moment when José Mourinho’s name entered the conversation. The Roma coach had expressed surprise that journalists had not pressed him more about penalties awarded to Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.
Asked for his take, Simeone simply laughed it off. “I have nothing to say or comment on,” he replied. No controversy, no extra spark. Just a chuckle and a closed door.
No debate over the Ballon d’Or
On the Ballon d’Or, though, Simeone did not hesitate for a second.
“Messi, without the slightest doubt,” he said. “After the World Cup he delivered and at this age? Messi without the slightest doubt.”
No nuance, no caveats. For Simeone, the argument ends there.
Adapting to a strange calendar
The Atlético boss also addressed the unusual rhythm of the season, with a three-week pause on the horizon.
“Stopping for three weeks is something new, but we try to adapt to everything,” he said. “The players have the complete desire, and this is part of the game, and we are in the place we chose to be in.”
Atlético go into the Osasuna clash sitting fifth in La Liga, with 10 points from five games: three wins, one draw, one defeat. Not a crisis, not perfection. A team, as Simeone keeps repeating, still under construction.
The question now is simple: will the Metropolitano embrace that project on Tuesday night, or will the criticism grow louder if the building phase stutters again?
