Simeone calls for patience with Atleti rebuild
Diego Simeone called for patience at Atletico Madrid amid its poor start to the season as it “build a new team”.
Atleti is 12th in the LaLiga, with six points from five matches, after it drew 1-1 against Mallorca on Monday.
Conor Gallagher scored the opener in the 79th minute, not long after Alexander Sorloth was shown a straight red card, but Vedat Muriqi equalised for Mallorca just six minutes later.
Julian Alvarez also missed a penalty early on for Atleti.
Simeone believes his squad needz time to gel together, with four summer signings making an appearance against Mallorca, but conceded his men must be more clinical in front of goal.
“We are trying to build a new team,” Simeone said. “Many players have come and we are working on that work. We are on the road and hoping that efficiency and forcefulness will bring us closer to the results that we are not having.
“On the coach's side we have to look at the positive side and correct what we have to correct.
“We have to improve the defensive part. The team has started scoring in every game but we have to improve to sustain the games.”
Alvarez was subbed off for Sorloth just after the hour mark, with the forward visibly frustrated by the decision.
Simeone defended the striker’s emotions, as well as his quality after his missed spot-kick.
“Julian is the best player we have offensively. We need to have it in the best way. I was playing a great game,” Simeone said.
“He understood that we needed Sorloth and they ended up sending him off in a confusing play. With Julian... all the players get angry when they come out, it's normal.”
