Atletico Madrid's clash with Celta Vigo on Thursday means Diego Simeone's team will have two fewer days to rest before their crucial derby against Real Madrid. The Argentine coach revealed that they are focusing on reducing player workloads during training sessions. Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory over Alaves on Tuesday, moving them up to second in LaLiga, and they had five days to prepare for the upcoming derby. Atletico, on the other hand, are looking to close the five-point gap to their rivals by traveling to Celta Vigo.
Simeone mentioned that central midfielder Koke did not train on Wednesday due to having played more minutes than any other player in the squad. 'We are trying to manage it in the best way possible. We have not changed much, trying to make the training sessions based on the players' workloads so that they arrive at the match in the best possible way,' Simeone told reporters.
The packed schedules in European football have been a constant concern, especially with recent injuries to high-profile players like Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Rodri. 'They are the ones who manage everything, all the rest of us are there to accompany (them), to try to manage. But the only ones who can create change are the footballers, because they are the ones who play,' Simeone said.
Simeone expressed confidence in his strikers, Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez, despite both new recruits having scored only one goal each this season. 'I have no doubt that with time and the partnerships that we will create, they will perform better. It is our job to make them feel better and it is their job to transmit to us those partnerships that are generated in football,' Simeone said.
Atletico Madrid currently sit fourth in the standings with 12 points after six games, while Celta Vigo are ninth with nine points.
