Prior
Barcelona is one of the leaders of LaLiga, next to the Real Madrid, and qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League as the first group. However, the team of Ernesto Valverde has added 40 points, the fewest of the last decade. “I don’t think that we have many ups and downs in the game. We took less points than last year, but we are up and we have all the options to win all the titles this year”, he defended the coach azulgrana, who came to Saudi Arabia after staying with the last League and after falling in the final of the Cup. The Athletic, his opponent this Thursday (20.00, Movistar Champions League) also go to the search of his best version. The current runner-up of Spain up in third, five points of the leaders. “We arrived in good time,” warned Diego Simeone; “with to improve things. Play against the best in the world makes you stronger because you have to turn on the alarms from the start for the team to grow”.
expand photo Simeone speaks with his players in the training of the athletes. Juan Carlos Hidalgo EFE
Simeone did not delay its appearance in Saudi Arabia. Atletico coach was scheduled to address the media after Valverde, but a mistake in the expedition barca made the argentine spoke before than its counterpart in barcelona. The bus that led to Valverde and Sergio Busquets are confused of the place. “We have known a little more about the city. There has been a small error. It was thought to be in the stadium”, explained Valverde. Does not end to convince the technician to the new format of the Super cup. “The football in which we are involved is an industry. You are looking for income, which is why we’re really here. Also happened in Morocco. It is not the same as playing at home, but here we are,” stressed the Txingurri, with the low of Ter Stegen, Arthur and Dembélé, and that led to Saudi to six players from the subsidiary.
Simeone longs for the victory to raise the morale of his team: “We have to stick to what is proposed by the Federation and resolve a semi-final that had not before. We must be clear about the concept and things like travel that before didn’t happened. But trying to win, which is what matters,” said the coach of argentina.
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