Recently, Atletico Madrid's former player Alfredo Santaelena accepted an exclusive interview with "Diario Sport".
In the interview, he talked about his views on the current situation of Atletico Madrid, the controversy over Simeone's coaching, and the upcoming Champions League knockout match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. He also bluntly stated that he hopes Atletico Madrid will show courage and ambition and strive for victory in the showdown.
Q: Returning to the knockout match against Barcelona, what is the key?
A: Victory or defeat often depends on details. Barcelona will use possession to suppress their opponents, and Atletico Madrid must learn to withstand this pressure. Once Atletico Madrid breaks the pressing, they can create damage in counterattacks. In my opinion, Marcos Llorente is the most crucial player. He has a strong ability to move forward and can break the balance on the field. Even playing as a full-back, he has a huge impact.
Q: What should Atletico Madrid do to win?
A: I think it is necessary to withstand Barcelona's possession advantage, not to be afraid, press high, and play counterattacks through ground balls instead of blindly kicking long balls, while seizing space opportunities.
Q: What weaknesses do you think this Barcelona has?
A: I don't think Barcelona will change their approach. Their coach always adheres to his football philosophy, and the defense presses very high. This season, Barcelona's pressing has often been inadequate, and the defense is too far forward, which they must improve. Because opponents can often penetrate the gaps behind them through the insertion of the third forward.
Q: Which players are you most concerned about in this Barcelona team?
A: Barcelona has a key player missing, that is Raphinha, who is a top player. This team is good at controlling the ball and suppressing opponents, and has sufficient troops in the frontcourt. Yamal is exceptionally talented and has excellent physical condition. Lewandowski was absent from the last Copa del Rey match, and his finishing ability is irreplaceable.
Fermin is in hot form now. I used to be a fan of Iniesta, and Pedri reminds me of him. He is Barcelona's most important player. If Atletico Madrid can limit him, the chances of winning will be much greater. He can always appear in key positions, control the rhythm of the game, and send accurate passes through balls.
Q: Were you surprised that Barcelona loss the first leg of the Copa del Rey 4-0?
A: It is rare for Barcelona to make such low-level mistakes, such as the goal conceded by Joan Garcia, which came too early and was fatal. However, Joan Garcia has excellent passing skills and is a very comprehensive goalkeeper. In addition, the Metropolitano Stadium is one of the most fanatical stadiums in the world.
In the past, the Calderón could accommodate 50,000 people, and now it has reached 7.50,000 people. The players on the field can clearly feel this pressure. Barcelona was completely suppressed at that time. Similar situations are difficult to repeat. I think this Champions League knockout match will be very different from the Copa del Rey.
I think Atletico Madrid has a group of excellent players: Griezmann, Alvarez, Baena, Barrios, Koke, Sørloth. Atletico Madrid's bench is strong and, in my opinion, is one of the top configurations in Europe. The team should not have an inferiority complex, but should press high and not shrink back timidly, which will only make Barcelona play comfortably. Counterattacks should stick to ground coordination and multiple points of support.
Q: Do you think Atletico Madrid's current lineup is stronger than Barcelona's?
A: I think Atletico Madrid's current squad depth is better than Barcelona's. It is another matter to talk about the individual ability of the players, but Atletico Madrid has reliable candidates for every position, all of whom are top players.
Q: How do you predict the promotion probability of the two teams?
A: It depends on the performance in the first leg, which will be a barometer for the entire matchup. Let's see how the two teams start. This contest is crucial for both sides. Atletico Madrid's home and away performances are very different, they are completely two different teams. Returning to the Metropolitano Stadium in the second leg, I think Atletico Madrid can reverse the situation and even have a better chance of winning.
Q: Which Barcelona player do you think has underperformed?
A: That's hard to say. No matter who comes on the field, Barcelona's youth training players can perform well, such as the sudden emergence of Gerard Martin. It was the same during the Cruyff era. He boldly used young players such as Sergi, Ferrer, and Amor and directly made them the main players. If I have to mention one person, it may be Balde, more because he has frequent injuries.
Q: Would you still like to return to the coaching position?
A: Of course I would. I took a few more months off to adjust my condition. The last team I coached was Toledo. But I really want to return to the coaching seat. I have also received some invitations before, but they did not materialize in the end.