Atlético Madrid head coach Diego Simeone launched a stern defence of his squad, on the back of their latest disappointing result on Saturday.
Fresh off a hard-fought defeat at the hands of Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek, Atléti, late last night, turned their attentions back towards matters on the domestic front.
Making the trip to the Power Horse Stadium, the Rojiblancos faced off against an Almería outfit still searching for their first victory of the campaign.
In turn, upon Ángel Correa opening the scoring inside the two-minute mark, fans of the visitors were no doubt predicting a comfortable evening’s work for their side.
What followed, however, proved quite the opposite.
After Luka Romero’s equaliser was cancelled out by Rodrigo De Paul just shy of the hour mark, the former was back at it again a short time later, in drawing Almería level once more.
And this is how things remained through the full-time whistle in Andalusia.
As much means that Atlético Madrid now sit just three points clear of 5th-placed Athletic Club in the La Liga table, whilst having played a game more.
Speaking to the media post-match, Diego Simeone, as a result, was unsurprisingly drawn on his side’s wretched form on the road.
Across the season to date, the capital outfit have managed to piece together a paltry five points from an available 24 away from the Wanda Metropolitano.
And Simeone, for his part, is in no two minds when it comes to the individual at fault:
“Because the coach sets up the matches poorly,” the Argentine’s precise response.
Conor Laird | GSFN
