Diego Simeone raised his voice and admitted his responsibility for Atletico Madrid’s defeat away to Real Betis. “The main focus is on me,” said a coach who, despite the delicate situation, denied he was worried.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone acknowledged on Sunday after the 1-0 defeat at the Benito Villamarin stadium against Betis, their first in the eleven La Liga games played, that the rivals were “fair winners” and that he should be “the main focus” of criticism.
“With their goal, with a bit of luck – Gimenez’s own goal after four minutes – they became more enthusiastic and we couldn’t score the goal we imagined. We didn’t team up, the preparation of the game by the coach wasn’t good. I didn’t give the players what we needed. The coach is always responsible. The main focus is on me, I have to improve them,” said the Atletico Madrid coach.
Simeone, who stressed that in the first half the opponent “was far superior”, said that “in the second half, the game was different, more back and forth” and that they had “some chances that could not convert”, and stressed that “the coach must have an idea that the players know how to represent” and that on Sunday they have not represented what he likes.
“Worried? No, I am clear about what is at stake, I know what the path is, where we have to work…. I am clear that football is work and when you don’t manage to find that naturalness in the game and in the continuous work you suffer”, argued the Argentine, who also valued the opponent’s game and said that he was not surprised.
“Betis is a team that has been growing and is improving in defence. In the first half, 1-0 was too little for them. We couldn’t do more,” he insisted.
