Regarding the team’s performance during the match, Simeone said: “The first half was dull from both sides, there was no collective play or clear attacking attempts; in the second half, we improved, played with more courage, and created chances but couldn’t score, and neither could Alaves.”
He added: “I do not agree with those who see the season as long; for me, we still have four matches ahead, and the most important thing is that we qualified for the Club World Cup after fierce competition with Real Madrid and Barcelona, which gives us great motivation.”
On the struggles against lower-ranked teams, he said: “This is not new; it has happened before even when we won the league. In football, you do not win just because you are facing a team at the bottom of the table; you must perform well and be decisive.”
Regarding the fluctuation in the team’s level between the halves: “Against Las Palmas, we were good in the first half and poor in the second, and today it was the opposite; this is the nature of matches, it relates to the players’ condition and the rhythm, and often the second half is more exciting due to the spaces.”
On the red card for player Julian: “It was difficult to play with 10 players for 50 minutes; the referee rushed into his first decision, but when he watched the scene calmly, he made the right decision in the end.”
