'He'll make us better' – Simeone thrilled with Lookman's impact on Atletico

  /  autty

Diego Simeone is confident Ademola Lookman will make Atletico Madrid better after he made a stellar start to life in the Spanish capital.

Atletico booked their place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a thumping 5-0 win over Real Betis at Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, with Lookman getting a goal and an assist.

David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada also got on the scoresheet as Atleti recorded their biggest win of the season in all competitions.

Atletico are currently on their longest winning streak in Copa del Rey single knockout matches in their history (11 victories).

And Lookman became the first Atletico player to debut as a starter versus a LaLiga opponent with a goal and an assist in any competition since at least the 2013-14 season.

"He's a big guy, he's already 28," Simeone said of Lookman.

"He came to help us, and we hope to help him too, so he can continue to grow. He has different qualities than the players we have, and he'll make us better.

"There were important things, the team has been playing important matches, the goal puts you in a better position.

"In the second half, we continued with better intentions, and this doesn't stop. We need to rest quickly because we play on Sunday."

Only Lionel Messi has scored more goals (32) and been involved in more goals (53) than Griezmann (29 goals, nine assists – 38 goal involvements) in the Copa del Rey on record with Opta (since 2013-14).

Atletico had more possession (58.3%) and also finished the game with an 88.7% passing accuracy (610/688 passes completed), and Griezmann believes the surface led to the team playing one of their best games so far.

"It was also thanks to the pitch, which is the best in Spain," he told Movistar LaLiga.

"Ours doesn't help much and makes it difficult for us to play, because we're a team that tries to play. We moved around a lot, we were very involved, and that helps the team that has the ball.

"We've moved around a lot off the ball to provide solutions for the player in possession, and that makes for a more fluid game. Tactical order is key, and that's how chances and the style of play we're looking for emerge."

Related: Atletico Madrid Griezmann Simeone Lookman
Download All Football for more comments