Atletico Madrid will face Celta Vigo on Thursday, giving Diego Simeone’s team two fewer days of rest before their upcoming derby match against Real Madrid. Simeone acknowledged the tight schedule and mentioned that the team is working to manage player workloads during training.
Real Madrid recently secured a 3-2 victory against Alaves, advancing to second place in LaLiga, while Atletico aims to close the five-point gap with them during their match against Celta Vigo. Simeone indicated that central midfielder Koke sat out training on Wednesday after accumulating more minutes than any other player on the roster.
“We are trying to manage it in the best way possible. We have not changed much, focusing training sessions around the players’ workloads to ensure they are in optimal condition for the match,” Simeone told reporters.
The issue of packed schedules has been a concern in European football, particularly with the growing number of injuries to key players such as Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City’s Rodri.
“They are the ones who manage everything; the rest of us are here to support them in managing. However, the players themselves are the only ones who can effect change, as they are the ones on the pitch,” Simeone explained.
Simeone expressed confidence in his strikers, Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez, both of whom have scored just one goal each this season. “I believe that with time and the right partnerships, they will improve. It is our responsibility to help them feel confident, while it is their duty to develop those partnerships on the field,” he said.
Atletico Madrid currently stands fourth in the league table with 12 points after six matches, while Celta Vigo sits ninth with nine points.