Simeone ignores criticisms from Valencia - "We'll go for the win; no excuses"

The Atlético coach was not interested in responding to comments by a Valencia player claiming that his team play aggressively, instead opting to praise his opponents.

Simeone warned that his side will go "for the win" in Valencia "with no excuses", stressed that his team are in "good shape" and said that Valencia have a "superb squad" which could put them among the top three of four spots.

The manager is not concerned about the lack of rest his team will have had between the Champions League clash against Juventus and Saturday's game at Mestalla.

"We're in good shape and gearing up for a big game, focussing only on what we can do something about. We can't do anything about the other things", he said.

"We need to try to play a competitive game against opposition who are growing, who have a very good coach, who are using the counterattack very well and will demand a lot of effort from us", Simeone went on to say. He also said that he will wait "a little longer" until the final hours before the game to "see if some of the lads recover" after the intense Champions League match.

"The basic idea is there", stressed the manager, who assured that Gabi is fit to play and in "very good shape" for the game after missing the last match with a knock to his ankle and then testifying before prosecutors over alleged match-fixing in the Levante-Zaragoza games