Diego Simeone: "We are excited to play at Calderón"

Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone is getting his team ready for another chapter of the rivalry between the Colchoneros and Barcelona. For this Saturday's clash, the Argentine manager is very excited and hopeful that the atmosphere of the Vicente Calderón Stadium can help Atleti to win the first match against the Blaugranes in 15 months.

Talking to the media in his pregame press conference, Simeone previewed the game, mentioned some lineup decisions he still hasn't made, and displayed confidence that his improved team can win this very important match.

Squad depth: "Our improvements have made us a better team, with a bigger chance to win against Barça. Let's see what happens tomorrow. We are excited to play at Calderón, and we hope to get a victory."

Barça: "They haven't been at their best, and they still managed to win all two games, which shows how dangerous they are. It's easier to compete against them in one game than over a whole season. They haven't been as brilliant lately, but they won everything last season and every footballer and coach on that team deserves our maximum respect."

Atleti's form: "We are clearly playing well. We had a very exciting performance at Sevilla, and we have reached this level by doing our best in training. We need to be at our best again on Saturday, not only the starters but also the substitutes, who played very well in Seville."

Starting striker? "We haven't made that decision yet. Right now it's a toss-up between Fernando Torres and Jackson Martínez, we'll see tomorrow."

Recipe to defeat Barça: "We didn't play the perfect match, but we obviously have competed. As it has always been against a team like theirs, we'll be very compact on defense and try to counter-attack. Let's see if it works."

Source: Marca

Source: Renato Goncalves http://ift.tt/1KgUalM