According to reports, Diego Simeone addressed the media after the final training session ahead of the match against Valladolid, scheduled for Monday at 9 PM local time at the Metropolitano Stadium. Atletico Madrid, with one game in hand, are 10 points behind the La Liga leaders and currently sit in third place.

Simeone on Gallagher: “When we considered him, we thought of a young player with high energy and motivation in his game, both in attack and defense. He is very good at striking the ball. Adapting to La Liga and the language is not easy for players coming from England. He has competed very well during this time, whether as a starter or in different positions. He has rarely played in his preferred role, but he has delivered what the team needed. He is improving and has room to grow. His fighting spirit is very valuable to us.”

Team’s condition after the win against Sevilla: “It was a tough match, and the opponent’s goal forced us to work hard to turn the game around. We succeeded. This week, we worked with great enthusiasm and motivation, focusing on tomorrow’s game.”

Set-pieces: “This season and even in previous seasons, we haven’t been able to fully utilize the abilities of set-piece takers or players who are good in the air. Certainly, we coaches are to blame for not providing the right opportunities, and the players are also responsible for not solving this issue in the game.”

Managing training during a week without matches: “This week could be managed in different ways, depending on the situation. Training every day isn’t easy either. Personally, I prefer consecutive matches because it means we are involved in more competitions. We adapt to the current needs and the rest of the season.”

Nahuel Molina’s inconsistent form this season: “He is human, and like everyone, sometimes he is at his best and sometimes not. He knows he needs to improve, and we’ve talked about it several times. When you do a lot of good things, expectations rise. He gives us many options in attack, his speed in resolving situations and defensive work is excellent. I’m sure he will soon return to the level he previously showed us.”

Goal in the remaining eight matches: “We are only thinking about Valladolid, nothing else. We take it game by game.”

The team at the end of the season: “As you always know me, we move forward with passion and excitement, with the hope of fighting until the last moment of the season. Game by game, we raise our motivation and energy to compete with all our strength until the end of the season, even if we have a 1% chance.”