Atletico Madrid’s Remarkable Triumph Over Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid’s head coach Diego Simeone expressed his pride in his team’s resilience and unity following their impressive 5-2 win against Real Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday. This victory was significant, marking the first instance in 75 years that Atletico scored five goals against their city rivals.

Simeone’s Praise for the Team

Simeone commented on the challenge of facing a top-tier team like Real Madrid, stating, “Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world, and today we had to play a great game,” during the post-match press conference.

He elaborated on their strategy, highlighting the effective use of fast breaks facilitated by players like Nico Gonzalez and Pablo Barrios, as well as Julián Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone, which helped draw center-backs out of position and allowed Alexander Sorloth to generate scoring opportunities. He noted that despite conceding two goals, his team performed admirably.

Emotional Moments for Simeone

The victory was particularly emotional for Simeone, who has been with the club for 14 seasons. Reflecting on the pressures of an earlier slow start—where they secured only one win in their first six matches—he could not hold back tears of joy towards the end of the match. “There are a lot of emotions inside,” he mentioned, acknowledging the challenges faced at the beginning of the season and the hard work behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed, describing the win as “wonderful.”

Highlighting the Collective Effort

Simeone emphasized the importance of teamwork in this match, stating, “The collective work and the faith to do what we wanted to do stood out. We interpreted the match well, and our fans are very happy because we won against a great rival that conceded few goals.”

He specifically commended Julián Alvarez for his two goals and significant impact on the game. “Julian is committed to the team, to the club, and he is very good. He has talent and works hard. He not only contributes offensively but also defends and supports the team dynamics. We need him, we have to take care of him, and hopefully, he can stay with the club for many years.”

Call for Patience Amidst Challenges

Looking back on the team’s rocky start to the season, Simeone urged for patience and dedication. He described the difficulties of integrating eight new players—seven from the previous year—into the squad. “When you lose, it’s difficult to talk because everything sounds like an excuse. I think we deserved a little more but we started with few results,” he said.

He acknowledged their defensive issues, expressing confidence in the team’s trajectory. “We conceded a lot of goals, and I believe the team is on the right track. By working hard and believing in what we do, I think things will turn out well.”

Current Standings

This victory propelled Atletico into fourth place in the league standings with 12 points, while Real Madrid maintained their top position with 18 points, closely followed by Barcelona, who have a game in hand.