Atletico Madrid kicked off their La Liga season with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Villarreal. Despite the setback, manager Diego Simeone saw positive aspects in his team’s performance. The team had to come from behind twice in the first half to secure a point, with Villarreal capitalizing on defensive errors made by Atletico. Simeone acknowledged that there were individual mistakes that needed improvement, but overall, he believed the team played well collectively. However, he admitted that they conceded goals that could have been avoided.
Arnaut Danjuma was able to beat Atletico defender Axel Witsel to score Villarreal’s opener, and a mistake by goalkeeper Jan Oblak led to an own goal from Atletico captain Koke. Despite the defensive lapses, Simeone mentioned that there were positive aspects that he noticed in the team’s performance. He highlighted that they needed to be more clinical in attack and avoid conceding goals in isolated plays. The manager expressed his satisfaction with the debut of Julian Alvarez, Atletico’s recent signing from Manchester City.
Julian Alvarez, a 24-year-old forward, joined Atletico for a fee of over 75 million euros. Simeone mentioned that Alvarez is still settling in with the team and getting accustomed to their playing style. The manager expressed optimism about Alvarez’s potential contribution to the team once he fully integrates and adapts. Simeone also addressed the absence of Joao Felix in the match against Villarreal, confirming that it was related to transfer market discussions. Reports suggested that Atletico had a deal in place to transfer Felix to Chelsea, but Simeone remained coy about the situation.
Simeone hinted that more details about Felix’s absence would be revealed soon, indicating that there were ongoing negotiations regarding the player’s transfer. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Felix’s future, Simeone remained focused on the team’s performance and upcoming fixtures. He emphasized the need for improvement in key areas such as defense and finishing in order to achieve success in the season. The draw against Villarreal served as a learning experience for Atletico, highlighting areas that required attention and development moving forward. As the season progresses, Simeone will look to fine-tune his team’s performance and ensure that they are competitive in La Liga.
