Simeone defends Atletico squad selection
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has dismissed suggestions the holders had given up on their Europa League last 32 second leg against Rubin Kazan after travelling to Russia without a number of first-team regulars.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z3QH5CGEoJaN5JFU6ypQob.jpg)
Atletico went down 2-0 at home against 10 men in the first leg, when they conceded an injury-time goal after keeper Sergio Asenjo joined the attack at a corner only for Rubin to break away and score in the unguarded net.
"I am in a position where I have to take decisions," Argentine Simeone told a news conference on Wednesday.
"We always look to be competitive and we will be again. Raul Garcia, Adrian Lopez, Cristian Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao are attacking players. We will give it our all even if it is obviously a favourable result for our opponents."
Simeone has seven youth-team players in the squad and left behind regulars such as Spain's Juanfran, Uruguay's Diego Godin, Brazil's Filipe Luis, Turkey's Arda Turan and captain Gabi for the match.
Atletico have made it clear their priority is to qualify for the Champions League this season and they lie second in La Liga. They also hold a 2-1 advantage over Sevilla in the semi-finals of the King's Cup.
Atletico, who play in Kazan on Thursday, beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the Europa League final last May, and also lifted the trophy in 2010 with a 2-1 win over Fulham.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack