Simeone: Confidence Intact After the Derby
Diego Simeone, true to his style, showed high spirits despite the derby defeat. El Cholo highlighted the team’s competitiveness and ability to react after conceding an early goal. He acknowledged that the result was not the desired one, as the goal was to win or at least draw.
The Argentine coach explained the change of system at the end of the match, seeking to replace key absences and generate danger in the rival area. Looking ahead to the return match, Simeone fully trusts in the unconditional support of the fans at the Metropolitano.
The coach believes that the encouragement from the stands is a vital stimulus that drives the team and mitigates the effort. Simeone especially regretted the second goal conceded, as it came at a time when the team felt comfortable and controlled the game.
Despite this, he valued the team’s reaction and their commitment to execute the match plan. El Cholo acknowledged that there was a lack of clarity in the final meters to materialize the generated opportunities, but highlighted the difficulty of taking risks against a rival that knew how to take advantage of their counters.
The Colchonero coach concluded that the mistake in the second goal, although painful, leaves a door open to hope for the return leg. With the fans as the engine and correcting specific details, Simeone is confident in turning the tie around.
