Atlético de Madrid beat Jiezhi 6-1 in a friendly match in Hong Kong. After the match, team manager Simeone was interviewed and commented on the trip to Hong Kong and the team's performance.
Simone first expressed his gratitude for the warm reception in Hong Kong. He mentioned that during the three days in Hong Kong, the team felt the care and passion of the locals. Whether it was the company of the fans in the hotel or the enthusiastic support of the spectators during the matches, the team felt very happy. This kind of good atmosphere undoubtedly added more motivation to the team's friendly matches in Hong Kong.
Simeone spoke highly of new signing Thurrott's performance. He praised Thurrott for integrating into the team very quickly and showing strong play in the game. Simeone thought it was great that Thurrott was able to perform so well just after joining the team and said that the team will work hard to help him play at his best in future matches. At the same time, Simeone also pointed out that Thurrott's style of play is similar to Morata's, and they are both excellent finishers. Therefore, the team will take a cue from helping Morata to help Thurrott become the striker with the most goals.
Speaking about Felix, Simeone emphasized his status as an Atletico Madrid player. He said that as long as Felix is in the team, the team will focus on his work, effort, potential, performance, and contribution, which is no different from how they treat other players. Simeone's words are undoubtedly an affirmation and encouragement to Felix, and show how he treats every player in the team equally as a manager.
Finally, Simeone commented on the team's overall performance. He felt that the first half was very close, with the team playing well after the start, but then got into some stalemate. However, in the second half of the game, the team used a lot of young players who played very well and added a lot of highlights to the game. Simeone said that the team must accompany the youngsters in their growth with a view to them being able to provide more help to the team now and in the future. This emphasis on young players and their development will undoubtedly lay a solid foundation for the future of Atletico Madrid.
