Tonight will meet Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, coach Diego Simeone recognizing that they not afford to sign so expensive players as the rival from the Spanish capital.
Atletico Madrid managed a great 2013-2014 season, in which has won the Primera Division title and reach the Champions League final, which they lost 4-1in front of tonight’s opponent.
After a brilliant course Atletico footballers drew attention of the big clubs and some of the Simeone’s main players left the Vicente Calderon this summer, including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and top scorer Diego Costa.
The Argentinian coach brought some value in in the, after he transferred Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic, but admitted he can not compare with the transfers made by Real Madrid, who spent more than € 100 million to bring at the Bernabeu players like James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos.
“We’ve got seven or eight players with €95m, they bought two with €95m,” Simeone told the press before the two teams’ Supercopa clash on Tuesday.
“There’s a little difference. But the club has always had this creativity. We are forming the group, but the group is not just 11 players but 18 or 20.
“[The Supercopa] is more about money than it is real – it’s two games at the start of the season that television pays for,” he argued. “A final is a final, not two finals.
“Last year we were close. Now we have to make a major effort.”