Diego Simeone loving the pressure ahead of Champions League final
Friday 27 May 2016 19:53, UK
Diego Simeone insists he is loving the pressure of having 113 years of history on his back ahead of Atletico Madrid's Champions League final against Real Madrid in Milan.
Simeone's side go to Milan looking for revenge after their 2014 final defeat by Real in Lisbon, and are also in search of their first European Cup crown.
The Argentine manager predicts a tense encounter, and says defensive midfielder Casemiro is key for Zinedine Zidane's side.
"I like to have 113 years of history on my back," he said. "I love that. I love the pressure.
"The game will be very tense, very even, especially at the beginning. Casemiro enables them to regroup better if they lose the ball.
"Whoever wins the early battles in midfield will have an advantage. Madrid, with their technical qualities, might try to play more.
"Casemiro makes Madrid a lot more dangerous on the counter-attack - that's how they played in both [semi-final] legs against Manchester City.
"Many people think that's bad - not me. There could be different situations during the game but it's clear that, if you give Madrid space, they're very dangerous."
Atletico finished two points behind Real in La Liga and have lost just four of their last 16 meetings with their city rivals.
Sergio Ramos' last-minute header in Lisbon two years ago brought the sides level before Real ran away with the final 4-1 in extra time, but Simeone insists Atletico have reinvented themselves more than Real in the time since.
"The club, the players, the group we've created, is reinventing itself continuously. That's what is most valuable at this club," he said.
"Everyone works with the idea of improving, growing, and that's life - if you work, work, work, eventually you get what you want.
"We're not really going to change much for this game - neither team will. Madrid haven't changed much [since 2014]; we've changed more but we have the same structure.
"To play a final is absolutely fantastic, to win it is even better. That experience makes you want to continue living these moments.
"It's not easy; you have to pick yourself up, keep inventing yourself, change the players but not change the commitment, the values, the work. If you keep working, you're insistent, you can achieve things."
