Simeone sees room for improvement after beating Manchester United

Diego Simeone, Argentine coach of Club Atlético de Madrid, celebrated the team's fifth consecutive win by beating Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League group stage at the Metropolitano in Madrid on October 13, 2026. The manager highlighted an increased goal‑scoring ability and the need to keep fine‑tuning the defensive balance.

Offensive improvement and defensive balance

"I think we are scoring more goals than at this stage last year," Simeone said after the match. He added that the ability to score makes achieving results easier and that, despite the progress, the team must "further improve its defensive balance".

Assessment of key players

Simeone praised Koke, emphasizing the captain's importance to the club and his personal situation, and expressed his emotional support for the player. Regarding Julián Álvarez, the coach noted that the striker is "getting closer to the player all Atlético fans want to see" and highlighted the internal competition with Jonathan David as one of the team's greatest strengths.

The Argentine also spoke about Pablo Barrios, who recorded 1 goal, 10 passes into the final third, 2 created chances, 49 of 52 passes completed, 61 touches, 4 recoveries and won 2 of 3 ground duels, describing his progress and the careful management of his playing time.

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Regarding Johnny Cardoso, Simeone highlighted his dominance in total duels (9), recoveries (6) and fouls drawn (2), while praising Morten Hjulmand's performance, who "integrated very well" and provides options for the team.

The manager also recalled defender Cristian Romero, whom he called "Cuti", explaining that the club had tried to sign him for two years and that, despite his recent arrival, he already plays a key role thanks to his class, character and leadership.

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On the match development, Simeone described the start as "a flying start", Manchester United's high press and Atlético's ability to beat that pressure and create chances, highlighting Llorente's save in both halves and the home side's greater possession and chance creation.