Simeone concerned about Atletico Madrid’s problems

Diego Simeone

thinks

may be held back from reaching their aspiration in this campaign should they fail to find the problems in defending.

Atleti were defeated 2-1 at the hands of

in the Supercopa de Espana semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

The champions were set to lock horns with Real Madrid in the final on Sunday after Unai Simon scored an own goal help them lead after the hour mark.

However, they mounted a comeback in Riyadh on Thursday, when Yeray Alvarez rose to head in a corner from Iker Muniain after 77 minutes into the game.

Nico Williams helped Athletic win the game in the 81st minute, scoring an impressive goal with his left foot.

Jose Gimenez got a red card after doing a challenge on Inigo Martinez and Atleti were handed another injury blow.

Simeone, however, was delighted with some aspects of his side’s performance but he warned them that they may not be up for trophies unless their problems are fixed.

"

There are things that can't be hidden. The team doesn't have defensive strength in aerial play and that takes away from us the possibility of having better games and better opportunities to be higher up in LaLiga and to stay in this competition,"

said the Atleti coach.

"This isn't the time to talk much. Everything looks much worse with the result, but there were good things. Joao [Felix] played a good game, [Angel] Correa worked, [Rodrigo] De Paul did well when he came on, [Mario] Hermoso's game was very good, Marcos [Llorente] was able to play for 45 minutes coming in with an overload in his glute, and we have to improve in training, on a day-to-day basis and get what comes to us from that."

When quizzed whether his side is at a point that they stopped believe, he replied:

"It's an opinion more than a question. I hear that as an opinion.

"We believe in the work we do. We're trying to improve. Since the Rayo [Vallecano] match [a 2-0 win on January 2], I think we've played good games, but we need to improve something very obvious that makes us lose points, [league] positions and stops us being in finals. It is up to us to improve that and increase the aggressiveness in the areas."

Llorente played at right wing-back before Renan Lodi replaced him after the break.

It concerned Simeone after Kieran Trippier was sold to

.

While he is pleased with the options that he has in hand, with Sime Vrsaljko also able to play the position, Simeone said the officials are looking at their options in the January transfer market.

"We have Vrsaljko as a replacement. He can play there. The club is working with what can be done in pursuit of the benefit of the club and of the team," he said.

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