Simeone: I like the word 'opportunity' more than 'revenge'
Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid manager, says the word "revenge" is a negative and he prefers to use "opportunity" as he prepared to face Real Madrid in the Champions League final for the second time in three years.
In an interview with uefa.com, Simeone has said that "there is no such thing as revenge in football, or in life for that matter, just new opportunities.
"Revenge is a negative word, because it harks back to a defeat; on the other hand, opportunity is about optimism, confidence and what's to come, and that's what we want to show in the Champions League."
Simeone is convinced that Atletico have eliminated "two of the three best teams in the world" in Barcelona and Bayern Munich and that in the final they will take on "the third".
Asked about the difference between this Atletico and the one which lost to Madrid after extra-time in the 2014 final, he said: "That team went into the final six days after a title decider against Barcelona, and with two of our most important players, Arda [Turan] and [Diego] Costa, carrying injuries.
"It was also perhaps a more mature squad, with the likes of [David] Villa, Raul García, Diego Ribas, [Jose] Sosa and Mario Suarez. This squad is different because it's full of young players who are going through all this for the first time and will undoubtedly come out much more mature for the experience."
Simeone said of his team's style: "We've been working on our style of play for the last four and a half years, with particular emphasis on our level of intensity. Many people drive themselves mad trying to get their players into that state.
"Even with the changes that have taken place, we've always kept up the same level of intensity. When new players come in, they understand the way we do things and what you need to play for Atlético Madrid. It's obvious that when you join such a club, you have talent, but you need to be part of the group, work hard and put your heart into it."
On the significance of the possibility of being the first man to lead Atletico to Champions League glory, he finished: "I think talk is cheap. When I hear people say what they'd like to happen, I think it's empty.
"You have to live in the present. Of course we'll prepare ourselves to win. It won't come down to what I want; it'll come down to how much effort we put in."
