Simeone on the partial closure of the Metropolitan: “There won’t be 5,000 people, but we have 60,000 to compensate” | Football | Sport
This Sunday (16:15, Movistar) in the match against Leganes, Atlético Madrid will fulfill the sanction to close the southern end, which on Thursday the Appeal Committee reduced from three to one game due to the incidents of the last derby. The match coincides with Fans’ Club Day, which the club celebrates every year. Activities will be organized for fans in the morning. Diego Pablo Simeone has always defended the structure, which he considers to be four pillars that support the club, players, coaching staff, management and fans. The Argentine coach was asked about how the empty stands would affect the team: “Like any team, if there are no stands behind the goal. Obviously, these are people who are always singing, always trying to captivate the entire audience. There will be a shortage of 5,000, but we have 55,000 or 60,000 to make up for the 5,000 that will be missing.”
On how he conducted himself in the turbulent two weeks following the derby, Simeone replied: “Leaving all situations in the hands of the club, which solves them in the best way possible, identifies the people who have to leave and makes decisions.” caring for our fans, those who are constantly with us, of which there are a lot. It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere tomorrow for sure and we hope that once we get into the game we’ll deliver on what we’ve put on offer over these two weeks.”
The club decided not to lift the sanctions, requiring a precautionary measure, although in such cases it is always granted. They agree to reduce the partial closure from three games to one and from 45,000 euros to 3,000.
Already focused on the competition, Simeone was invited to clarify the words he said at the end of the match in Anoeta. “We will continue to play in our league,” he said after the draw with Real Sociedad. We have already explained this a thousand times. We’re doing it again. There are two leagues. On the one hand, I’m trying to get inspired and work to get to Madrid and Barcelona. In the last twelve years we have won two leagues. Thus, on the one hand there are Barcelona and Madrid, and on the other there are all those who strive to be in the place where Atlético is, which has accompanied Madrid and Barcelona for these twelve years. “Girona had a great season last year and got into a position that others are working very well towards.”
Finally, he was asked about the comments of Samu Omorodion, who joined Porto this summer and has been the main culprit behind his impressive start to goal. The U21 national team player assured that Atlético Madrid is not giving him opportunities. “We try to be honest, striving for the best for the club and the team. He knows that on June 28 he sent a message in which he made it clear that he did not want to stay at Atlético,” Simeone concluded.