Simeone urges Atletico de Madrid to focus on Manchester United rather than Champions League final

Diego Simeone has told Atletico de Madrid to concentrate on their Champions League meeting with Manchester United rather than look ahead to the possibility of playing the final at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico de Madrid host Manchester United on Tuesday in the second round of the league phase of the 2026-27 Champions League. The Spanish side lost 2-1 to Liverpool in their opening match, while Manchester United began with a 4-0 victory over Sabah.

Asked about the prospect of the Champions League final being held at Atletico’s stadium, manager Simeone said his team needed to deal with what was immediately in front of them.

“We have to deal with reality, and reality is what we experience day by day,” the Argentine said at his pre-match news conference.

“There is no need to exaggerate things when the time has not yet come. We have to focus on the match, because that is what we do best.”

Simeone said Manchester United would provide a demanding test but insisted Atletico must impose the kind of contest that suits them.

“Manchester United are a strong team, but we have to make the match develop in the way that is best for us,” he said.

“It will be a long and difficult game, and we will need to manage the players’ physical effort well so that we can compete in the best possible way.”

Atletico’s defeat by Liverpool means they will be seeking their first points of the league phase, while Manchester United arrive after a comfortable opening victory against Sabah.

Simeone also discussed the role of Julian Alvarez, who joined the attack in his assessment of the team’s preparations for the match.

He said forwards with Alvarez’s qualities needed to contribute beyond simply scoring goals, pointing to the Argentina international’s wider influence in attack.

“I believe strikers like Julian always need to score goals, but not only to be decisive in front of goal,” Simeone said.

“He is a team player, he is good at linking up with his team-mates and creating chances, and he has many other qualities in addition to scoring.”

Alvarez played a positive second half in Atletico’s match against Alaves on Saturday, and Simeone hopes the striker can continue to improve.

“Julian had a good second half in the game we played against Alaves on Saturday,” he added. “We hope he continues to develop and reaches the level that we all want him to show.”