Atletico de Madrid vs Getafe preview - Garcia talks up Atletico

Posted Saturday, November 23, 2013 by PA

Getafe coach Luis Garcia believes that Atletico Madrid, his side's opponents on Saturday, have altered the landscape of Spanish football.

Garcia did not just laud the work of Diego Simeone's side, who lie second in the Primera Division, for upsetting the traditional dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona, but emphasised that they had changed the way people view the game.

"I say this with admiration - Atletico Madrid have turned Spanish football upside down," he told a press conference.

"For years and years everyone thought that only possession football was good enough, but now this team, by showing great intensity, aggression and by playing together as a team, without having much possession in many games, have shown you can achieve big things playing a different way."

Getafe have been one of the surprise packages in Spain this season and are sixth in the table, occupying the final Europa League spot.

Garcia wants his team to learn from Atletico in certain ways, and believes they are on the way to doing so.

"We don't necessarily want to be a mirror image of them but they have shown us that if we get to their level in the aspect of hard work we will be a very dangerous team," he said.

"It's nothing to do without playing well or badly, it's about playing as a team, a group, I want my team to be like that, to work in the same way, prioritising the team's interests above individual interests. I believe we are doing that, and it makes me really proud."

Garcia will be without defenders Lisando Lopez and Rafael Lopez, the latter suspended, and midfielder Pablo Sarabia, who is out with a strained muscle.

Simeone later mentioned Garcia's comments in his press conference, saying: "I'm grateful for his words. It's true there's another way to play football. I'm on a constant search to make sure my players feel comfortable playing this way."

He then returned the compliment by praising Getafe for how they have turned their season around.

"They have managed to come through a difficult start and suddenly in seven weeks they've become candidates for the European places," said the Argentinian.

"They are a difficult team to play against. They are much more combative, more organised than before. They have a lot of intensity in attack. In some aspects we are similar teams. It will be a dangerous game."

The coach welcomes back top scorer Diego Costa from a thigh injury, and David Villa has recovered from a light muscle strain he suffered while on international duty with Spain. Filipe Luis also returns from suspension after missing the 1-1 draw at Villarreal a fortnight ago, although injuries have ruled out Mario Suarez and Leo Baptistao.