- Title: Small details will decide second leg, Atletico's Diego Simeone says
- Date: 17th April 2017
- Summary: LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UK (APRIL 17, 2017) (REUTERS) ATLETICO MADRID PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO COACH DIEGO SIMEONE SAYS (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "I will repeat what I said in the pre-match press conference before the first leg, I think our characteristics, our traits, as two teams are very similar. We are not too different in the way we play. You know we both work hard. I think it will be a very very tight game and as Godin has just mentioned I think the first leg was a very tight result and I think tomorrow night will be no different. It will be decided on the smallest of details." ATLETICO COACH DIEGO SIMEONE WATCHING TRAINING SESSION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO COACH DIEGO SIMEONE SAYS (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "I am going to answer in a similar way to your colleague from your station, I don't see anything too different from the first match. I said before the first leg that this tie would go through to the second leg and the outcome would be decided here at the stadium. My opinion has not changed, I don't think either team will change the way they play tactically, we are a long way into the season now, I don't think people will be changing. I think Leicester will try to put us under pressure early on, they start the game brightly always but both teams feed off small details you know. I see the tie as very, very equal just as I did before the first leg." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO CENTRAL DEFENDER DIEGO GODIN, ASKED IF ATLETICO SEE THEMSELVES AS THE FAVOURITES, SAYS (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "We don't feed so much responsibility as real desire. We are keen and can't wait to get playing tomorrow night. It's another chance for us to get into the semi-finals once again and we can't wait to get started." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO COACH DIEGO SIMEONE, ASKED ABOUT DEATH OF ARGENTINE FAN IN STADIUM DURING VIOLENT INCIDENT, SAYS (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "Obviously it was a terrible episode with the fans. I would say it is more of a social problem than a fan or a football problem but I think generally to make a better Argentina I think people have to make better decisions, take responsibility for their actions and take care of themselves better." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO CENTRAL DEFENDER DIEGO GODIN, ASKED HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO DEFEND AGAINST JAMIE VARDY, SAYS (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "He's a very hard working player with a lot of skill and we know we can't give him a lot of space. I think what we managed to do in the Calderon was to limit any space that he had. He's very physical as well as being a technical player so I think we have to repeat that level of concentration and try to make sure we don't give him any room to benefit from any space available." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO COACH DIEGO SIMEONE, ASKED ABOUT RUMOURS THAT ANTOINE GRIEZMANN WILL COME TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE IN THE SUMMER, SAYS (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "That is a question for Antoine Griezmann."
- Embargoed: 1st May 2017 22:40
- Keywords: Diego Simeone
- Location: LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016CSFEPR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Spanish heavyweights Atletico Madrid come to England expecting the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals with Leicester City to be decided by small details, Atletico coach Diego Simeone told reporters in Leicester on Monday (April 17).
Leicester have to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit and the prize for each team is a place in the Champions League semi-finals.
"I think our characteristics, our traits, as two teams are very similar," Atletico's charismatic manager Diego Simeone told reporters after a tough first encounter with the Midlands side.
"I think the first leg was a very tight result and I think tomorrow night will be no different. It will be decided on the smallest of details."
Defender Diego Godin said his team was relishing the chance to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League again. He said Jamie Vardy remained a player who must not be given space, and Atletico would try to limit him again to deny him opportunities.
Atletico come to Tuesday's (April 18) tie having competed in two Champions League finals in the last three years, having made it to four successive quarter-finals.
Leicester were outclassed for large parts of the first leg at a fervent Vicente Calderon Stadium but, crucially, return to the King Power Stadium with their storied opponents well in their sights after Antoine Griezmann's solitary goal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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