Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone took responsibility for the collapse his side suffered early in the second half against Athletic Bilbao in a match that ended in his side’s 3-0 defeat in the Spanish league.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper AS after the match, Simeone said: “As we saw, we played an important first half. We had chances, we showed character and played well, but in five or two minutes we lacked focus and in crucial situations that could have been handled better.”
He added: “The opposition handled it well and took advantage of the lack of concentration and then it started to be a tougher and tougher match. They were more organized in defense and deserved to win.”
Regarding what hurt him in the match, he explained: “The match was going very well and we had good feelings before the start of the second half, but in those two minutes we didn’t handle the situations very well.”
He continued: “It’s the responsibility of the technical staff because we couldn’t give the team the start they needed in the second half.”
As for why the team didn’t enter the second half with the same focus, Simeone said: “The technical staff couldn’t convey what was needed to start the second half and the players didn’t find it themselves.”
Simeone spoke about the team’s current stage and said: “We are in a team-building stage and we will go through difficult situations. We started well, as we expected, but those five minutes gave us a blow and we have to react and decide.”
The Atletico Madrid coach praised his rival and emphasized that Athletic Bilbao has a coach with clear ideas, noting that the team did a very good job defending low.
Simeone noted that Atletico did not create many chances, except for Julian Alvarez’s chance which was blocked by the Bilbao keeper, adding: “I like Athletic Bilbao. They are an important team and will fight for important positions. There will be competition with Villarreal, Real Sociedad and many teams that are close to us.”
Simeone was asked why Alvarez didn’t train with the substitutes after the match, and he replied: “Are you really asking me that? I have nothing to say.”
