Atletico de Madrid vs Mallorca preview - Simeone focused on the win

Posted Sunday, May 26, 2013 by PA

Diego Simeone insists Atletico Madrid are still determined to take all three points from Mallorca even though they have nothing to play for.

Los Rojiblancos are guaranteed to finish third in the Primera Division and won the Copa del Rey last weekend by beating Real Madrid in dramatic fashion at the Bernabeu, but the Argentinian is adamant his team will not take their foot off the gas.

He told a press conference: "The stadium is going to be full. We hope that the fans can get down to the stadium and be with the team. We want to win. We need to understand the importance of getting to 75 points rather than staying on 72 points."

Simeone also evaluated his first full season in charge at the Calderon: "I would give the team 10 out of 10. It's been a very good season.

"We managed to stay close to Barcelona in the title race until February, and got to the final of the Copa del Rey by winning big games.

"Getting third place in the league means we achieved the most important objective [getting into the Champions League].

"The only sore point is the Europa League [Atletico were eliminated in the first knock-out round by Rubin Kazan]."

Mallorca boss Gregorio Manzano is also certain Atletico's players will not be distracted by the atmosphere of the match following their Copa del Rey win and will be focused on winning the game.

"There will obviously be a party atmosphere, but only in the stands," he said.

"When the game starts it will be another game in which Atletico Madrid will want to play well and win the game, just like us. They won't play half-heartedly."

Unless Mallorca beat Atletico, the Islanders will be relegated, but even if they do manage to take all three points from the Calderon, their fate will be sealed if Deportivo win in Malaga, as the Galicians, three points ahead Manzano's side, will be guaranteed to finish ahead due to their superior head-to-head record.

Although his side's chances of survival are slim, Manzano said he would make sure his players still gave their all, and asked for a repeat of the performance they produced in their 1-0 win over Real Betis last weekend, which kept their faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

"I will demand the same attitude and intensity from my players, they will need to have that until the last minute of the season," he declared.

"We have to keep working in the same way now that we are closer to success than failure. We have to do our job, and we are obliged to win."