Diego Simeone says Atletico Madrid fully focused on sealing progress in Salzburg

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone said his side are thinking of nothing but progression to the Champions League last 16 ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with RB Salzburg.

Atletico are fifth in the table on 13 points but require a win in Austria to make sure of automatic progression without the need to rely upon other results.

Simeone’s side have failed to win either of their last two LaLiga matches, costing them their place at the summit, but have won their last four in Europe to move to the brink of qualification.

“We are not thinking about anything other than tomorrow’s game and trying to solve it in the best way we believe,” said Simeone.

“Salzburg are a young team, with enthusiasm, who will start the league at the weekend and will want to arrive in the best way as well as close the Champions League at home and we are focused only on tomorrow’s game.

“We need to take the game to where we think we can hurt them and be attentive to what they show with the change of coach they had and there are modifications that we can surely see tomorrow.

“When this new tournament started we had the aspiration of being among the first eight. We knew it was going to be difficult and it is, but nothing that we have been doing takes us out of contention. We come with the enormous aspiration of doing it tomorrow.”

Salzburg boss Thomas Letsch, whose side have already been eliminated having won just one of their seven Champions League games, reflected on what is likely to be a difficult assignment.

“They are a team that has consolidated over the years, that defends well and has the potential to win titles and is undoubtedly one of the favourites,” he said.

“We don’t expect them to push the attack line much forward, but to attack based on a strong defensive block.”