Diego Simeone: 'I have a strategy to counter Barcelona'

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone states that he has already devised a strategy for the Champions League quarter-final return match versus Barcelona.

The home team enters the match with a 2-0 lead from the first leg and is in a favorable position to secure a spot in the semifinals, where they will face Arsenal or Sporting.

Simeone made up to 10 changes in Atletico's lineup when facing Sevilla in La Liga, a match in which the Madrid capital team lost 1-2. After the game, the Argentine strategist was asked whether his players were distracted by the upcoming Champions League match. He denied this.

"No, no. Atletico didn't win because Sevilla was more decisive," Simeone told the press. "We have a plan. That doesn't mean everything will go smoothly; it could be good or bad, but I have a plan and will not deviate from it."

The Atletico manager also emphasized that age is not a factor: "For me, age is not important. Some players understand the game, some do not. We do more right than wrong. The truth is the opponent desperately needed a win. We competed well but did not create as many scoring opportunities as desired."

Simeone also admitted he was dissatisfied with the way the game was conducted: "We controlled the ball more than I expected. I wanted the team to play more directly and transition more aggressively, but we didn't achieve that. The final result was a narrow defeat that could have been a draw."

Atletico and Barcelona have faced each four times this season. Barcelona won both La Liga matches, while Atletico secured a 4-3 aggregate victory after two legs in the Copa del Rey semifinals.

Simeone continued to defend his decision to field the youngest lineup of his tenure after the close defeat to Sevilla. Ahead of the decisive Champions League second leg against Barcelona, the Argentine coach opted for a strong rotation at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium, aiming to preserve fitness and freshness for key players.

Despite the 1-2 loss, Simeone remained steadfast in the post-match press conference. He prioritized the freshness of players for the home match against Barcelona, resting almost the entire core squad and giving opportunities to young players and substitutes. When asked if the defeat was a consequence of prioritizing the Champions League, Simeone replied: "The Sevilla match was about sharpness. We have a plan; it may succeed or fail, but I will not change it. I have a plan."

Despite lacking experience, the performance of the young players still satisfied Simeone. "I always say that for me there is no concept of age. Some read the game well, some do not. I think we competed very well. We held the ball more than desired, because I prefer a more direct style. I think we could have drawn. I am satisfied with what they showed. Nobody knows when such opportunities will come, so you must be ready."

Atletico started the match poorly by conceding early, but the subsequent response pleased Simeone. The spirit of "Cholismo" – a disciplined, combative, and resilient style of play – was maintained even with the young lineup. "Being down 0-1 from a situation that could have been handled better might have put us in a difficult position, but that didn't happen," Simeone noted. "The young players responded well; how they competed satisfied me."