Diego Simeone, after his side’s 4-2 victory over Valladolid, revealed how he motivates Julian Alvarez, who scored a brace from the penalty spot in the match.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone stressed on Monday that Julian Alvarez is having a “huge season,” but insisted on the demand on him and joked that he tells him that Lewandowski “has more goals.”
“Julian is having a huge season. We went looking for that player. We need that player. Especially at times in the match against Sevilla and on Monday he took on the role of the weight of the offensive team. We need those characteristics, he is competing very well, I think he has 14 goals in the league and we tell him that Lewandowski has many more”, he said in the press conference after the match at the Metropolitano.
Julian scored 2 of the 4 goals. Giuliano Simeone scored another one. “Honestly, I didn’t expect him to have this performance. I did think he could help us. That’s why I thought of having him as one more player for the squad, but he is having a very good season and hopefully he can continue with it. Nobody gave him anything and nobody is going to give him anything. He knows that more than anyone else, because he knows me very well”, said the coach.
The fourth goal came from Alexander Sorloth, once again coming off the bench. The coach explained how he convinces him: “By talking to him sincerely face to face, like I talk to him,” he replied.
The coach also stressed that Koke is “a very important player” for his team: “He knows what we need, what we want in the game and he knows me very well. We need him to continue and be with us”.