Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone, has defended Julian Alvarez amid his goal drought and called for patience with Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash against Manchester United in Spain.
Alvarez has struggled to find the net in recent months, with his last goal for Atletico coming in the Champions League semi-final on April 29.
However, Simeone has insisted that the Argentine striker offers much more to the team than goals alone.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the encounter, Simeone said, “Forwards with Julian’s characteristics always need goals, and he is not the only one.”
The Atletico boss highlighted Alvarez’s contribution to the team’s overall play, adding, “He is a team player, he can link up and coordinate, and he has many other tools besides simply scoring goals.”
Simeone also praised the striker’s performance in his previous outing and expressed confidence in his continued development.
“He produced a great performance in the second half in the last match, and we hope he continues to develop to reach the place where we all want to see him,” he said.
Alvarez has gone 224 days without scoring in La Liga, with his last league goal coming on February 28, when he netted the winner in Atletico’s 1-0 victory over Oviedo.
However, he has found the net in the Champions League and Copa del Rey this season.
The Argentine has recorded 17 goals and six assists in 26 Champions League appearances for Atletico, in addition to eight goals and two assists in 17 matches during his time at Manchester City.
Tuesday’s meeting also presents an opportunity for Alvarez to score against Manchester United, a team he failed to score against during his spell at City.
Atletico will be seeking a response after losing their opening Champions League fixture to Liverpool at Anfield.
Simeone stressed that collecting points would be crucial to their hopes of progressing in the competition.
“We know how difficult this competition is, and this format forces you to try to pick up points whether you are playing at home or away, in the first match or the last, and it is clear that we need points like all the teams who want to stay in the competition,” he said.
The Atletico manager also dismissed speculation about the possibility of reaching the Champions League final, which is scheduled to be held at the Wanda Metropolitano, insisting that his team must concentrate on the immediate challenge.
“I understand your position in focusing on the Champions League final at the Wanda Metropolitano, but let’s move on to the reality of the day-to-day matches, one match after another. Let’s not stir up ideas like: if we reach the final, then that…. No, let’s focus on the day-to-day matches, and that is where our strength lies,” Simeone said.
Assessing Manchester United, the Spanish side’s coach warned that their recent draws should not be mistaken for weakness.
He said the Premier League club retained the intensity and attacking threat they displayed last season.
“They are a team that presses hard in your half of the pitch, and they have quick players. Regardless of the results, where they have had many draws, they are producing the same performances they produced last year. They are a strong team, but we have to play in a style that allows us to hurt them,” he said.
Simeone added that managing his players’ workload and selecting the right starting line-up would be important in what he expects to be a demanding encounter.
“We have to stay calm and manage the key players tomorrow in the best possible way, because the match will be long and difficult, and we have to manage their efforts well in order to compete effectively,” he said.
Meanwhile, Simeone has urged Lookman to remain persistent as the Nigerian forward works towards regaining his best form at Atletico.
The coach acknowledged that the former Atalanta player was yet to reach the level expected of him but emphasised the importance of his dribbling ability and willingness to take on opponents.
“He is not in the place he wants to be, nor in the place where we want to see him, but he works every day searching for that player. He is a dribbler, and we need him to be like that, to lose the ball, and to keep trying,” Simeone said.
In contrast, Atletico midfielder Alex Baena received strong praise from the coach after overcoming an injury-disrupted period.
Simeone said the approaching World Cup had helped boost Baena’s confidence, describing his current form as an opportunity the team must take advantage of.
“He was going through an inconsistent year because of injuries. And now the World Cup has come around, which has given him confidence and security… He is at the peak of his level, and we have to try to make the most of each player’s best moments in order to achieve the best results for the team,” he added.
