MADRID —
Diego Simeone says he backs his
Atletico Madrid players to prevail in their must-win final Champions League group match
with Porto on Tuesday.
اضافة اعلان
Defeat would see Atletico miss out on the knockout stage for
only the second time during Simeone's near decade-long tenure.
Atletico and
AC Milan both trail second-placed Porto by a
point.
Milan host Liverpool, who have already qualified as Group B
winners, and are above Atletico on goal difference.
Should both Atletico and Milan win their games it will come
down to goal difference as they are tied on their head-to-head record.
There have been clear signs this season of decline in the
Atletico side Simeone has taken to two La Liga titles and within a whisker of
two Champions League triumphs.
Atletico go into the match in Portugal on the back of a home
defeat in La Liga, a 2-1 loss to Mallorca on Saturday.
However, Simeone is adamant the players will deliver for him
and the fans.
"I have full confidence in my team," said Simeone
at his press conference on Monday.
"We have worked on the things we needed to and now what
we have to do is to talk amongst ourselves so that we feel at ease on the
pitch.
"The one thing that is important to me is that we feel
good on the pitch, which will allow us to control the game and chances will
flow from that."
The combative former Argentinian midfielder said he is not
underestimating the challenge that faces his side.
"We have a very important match against a very good
side, who top their league," said the 51-year-old.
"Porto are a team who I like a lot and who go into the
last round favourites because they have more points than either ourselves or
Milan."
Atletico's Spanish international midfielder
Marcos Llorente
said the team were used to facing tight situations like the one confronting
them.
"This team has the character and personality to get out
of this," he said.
"We have done it before and this situation is no
different.
"These are the sort of matches every footballer enjoys
playing."
Simeone said Uruguayan central defender Jose Maria Gimenez
will miss the game through injury, but Belgian international Yannick Carrasco
is once again available for selection.
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