Simeone desperate to get Atletico back on track
Diego Simeone says Atletico Madrid needs goals from all areas of the pitch if it wants to keep its LaLiga title charge alive.
Atletico is winless in its past LaLiga two games, having suffered a shock defeat to Leganes before having to come from behind to salvage a draw with Villarreal last time out.
It has seen it drop to second on the table, four points behind Real Madrid, with Real Mallorca next up in the Spanish top-flight.
Atleti has won its past four games against Mallorca in LaLiga, keeping a clean sheet in each of the past three. It has never registered four consecutive shutouts against the Balearic club in the competition before.
"We need goals in all facets of the game. Not to mention the defenders too, especially from set pieces," Simeone said.
"We need to work, create situations similar to those that may arise in matches so that, after repetition, the calmness to resolve goal situations appears."
Simeone will manage his 500th LaLiga match at Atletico Madrid on Sunday. He is the eighth coach to reach this figure in the history of the competition, and the first to do so with a single club.
He is determined to get it league form back on track, having sealed automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 with a 4-1 win over RB Salzburg last week.
"We take it one game at a time, knowing the needs of our opponents and our own," he said.
"I imagine that our opponents will play in 5-4-1 with [Vedat] Muriqi or [Cyle] Larin, taking advantage of their aerial play and counter attacks."
Antoine Griezmann has been involved in five goals in his past eight LaLiga games against Mallorca, scoring two goals and assisting three, after failing to do so in any of his first six LaLiga games against the same opposition.
Alexander Sorloth, who has scored eight league goals in 18 games, missed three games in all competitions before coming off the bench in the second half against Salzburg.
The 29-year-old will be available against Mallorca but Simeone remained tight-lipped on his starting line-up.
"He already had 35 minutes the other day to feel part of the team again after his short injury. We'll see who starts tomorrow, [Angel] Correa is fine, Griezmann, Sorloth is eager," Simeone added.
Defender Cesar Azpilicueta might replace Javi Galan, who sprained his ankle in the UEFA Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen after Simeone said Atletico needs him and hopes he can always be available.
