Atletico Madrid vs Osasuna preview - Simeone hails Atleti strength

Posted Sunday, October 28, 2012 by PA

Diego Simeone insists the performance of everyone in his squad makes naming his team to face Osasuna very difficult after Atletico Madrid picked up their 11th consecutive win against Portuguese side Academica Coimbra on Thursday despite resting a host of first-team players.

The Argentinian also tried to play down his own influence on a side which has been transformed since he took charge just 10 months ago.

He told Marca: "I don't consider myself the protagonist of this moment for Atleti. They are the players, the harmony since the first day has been spectacular.

"It is very difficult to name the 11. I don't know how to explain to players why they have been left out. They are all playing at a tremendous level. It hurts when I have to drop Emre, Raul (Garcia), Adrian or Diego Costa.

"To beat Osasuna we have to play with intensity and aggression. We know what we can do and what we have to do."

Simeone will recall all those rested in midweek, including Radamel Falcao as he looks to continue his 10-game scoring streak for club and country, while Arda Turan is available again after missing last weekend's win away to Real Sociedad with an ankle injury.

Osasuna meanwhile are experiencing a very different start to the campaign as they currently sit at the foot of the Primera Division table and manager Jose Luis Mendilibar believes his side must match Atleti's desire if they are to take anything from the game.

He told the club's website: "I hope to be able to complicate things for them and that we are a team with just as much, or even more, aggression as them to be able to win.

"We need to improve to strengthen ourselves. We are last in the table, but we need to believe in what we are doing and think that we are going to leave the bottom of the standings."

Damia is suspended for the visitors so Nano will come in at left-back and Mendilibar may choose to rotate his strikers as Joseba Llorente has still only scored once this season.