Simeone Slams False Injury Reports
Diego Simeone asks media to stick to facts when reporting on Atletico Madrid injuries
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone is unconcerned about injury and team-news leaks harming his side.
Athletic Bilbao visit the Wanda Metropolitano in LaLiga on Saturday, with Atleti fourth in LaLiga - four points shy of Barcelona but bolstered by a 2-0 revenge win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
The initial encounter at Signal Iduna Park brought a 4-0 defeat for Simeone's usually miserly side, who have been undermined by frequent fitness concerns this term.
Defenders Lucas Hernandez and Jose Maria Gimenez were the latest players to be sidelined by muscular problems this week.
Reports, since rejected, in Spain claimed Gimenez's hamstring complaints are of a chronic nature that will continue to hinder him throughout his career.
"You guys are journalists, and you know the information can be true or false and you will never know if it's true or false because you are not there to see it," Simeone said when addressing the issue at his pre-match news conference.
"If you were then [the reports] would be written facts. We respect every opinion and, though in every big team there are injuries, we work to keep our players in shape, so we will keep working for that."
