Atlético Madrid secured a first league win of 2026 by beating Alavés with a header from Alexander Sørloth, but much talk again focused on the transfer market.
Pre-match, sporting director Mateu Alemany assessed the market by saying that Conor Gallagher was the only player to have left who featured regularly.
“It’s true that (Javi) Galán and Carlos Martín had played little, but we could count on them if necessary,” Simeone responded in his press conference after the 1-0 victory. “Today they are not here, and there is still no one else.
“We are waiting for this to progress according to our needs,” he continued. “Today Conor might have come on, because we needed a midfielder with those characteristics, that’s why Llorente played as a midfielder (and later) as a forward. One day, Llorente is going to ask me where else he wants me to play him! We’re adapting to everything.”
Diego Simeone on suffering despite being superior
“That’s football. We played very well, the first half was one of our best, we played in the opposition’s half, they didn’t have any dangerous chances on the counter-attack, we moved the ball well from side to side. We continued in the same vein, (Pablo) Barrios with a cross to (Alexander) Sørloth who couldn’t finish, then the goal, then (Thiago) Almada’s (chance), (Álex) Baena’s, which was an extraordinary move and hit the post. You get to the last 10 minutes, the opposition feels they can equalise because the lead is only one goal. It’s normal to go through those moments where you feel they can equalise because you were only winning 1-0.”
Diego Simeone on Julián Álvarez
“For me, he played a great game, just like in A Coruña and against Real Madrid. For me, he played well and the goal will come. The truth is that I’m not worried, because he has the goal in him. He’ll have to keep working with the stability he finds at Atleti and soon we’ll surely be talking about Julián’s goals.”
Diego Simeone on whether he was angry about suffering at the end
“No. There’s no other way to accept things that can’t be changed, because football is football. Sometimes you’re strong and sometimes you’re not, I’ve accepted that now.”
Diego Simeone on the atmosphere
“(The fans) were singing, cheering and we need them close by.”
Diego Simeone on Alexander Sørloth being more prolific in winter
“To be honest, I didn’t know about these situations. I think that since Alex joined the club and the team, this is his best run of form. I was telling him today in an individual video session that he’s much more stable, consistent. He was proving it with goals and goal-scoring opportunities, one day he scores one, another day two and another day none, but what he brings to the team is what we need in that position.”
Diego Simeone on a lack of decisiveness
“(The players) have the talent. It comes in waves, some fresher moments where the play is better resolved and others where it is not. The team creates, has chances, tries to compete as it is doing. I prefer this to not attacking throughout the match and not being able to talk about the good play that the team is demonstrating.”
Diego Simeone on defensive substitutions
“You forgot about Baena and (Antoine) Griezmann, who were among the changes. Marcos moved further forward, but maybe the team interpreted that they had to defend the 1-0 lead. And they did it well.”
