Atlético Madrid's coach, Diego Simeone, expressed his confidence in Julián Álvarez, highlighting that he knows "exactly" what the player can bring to the team, following their 3-0 win against Girona at the Cívitas Metropolitano.

"Key players make things happen; people come to the stadium to watch them and expect something special. We know what Julián’s got. We know all that he can offer us. We're going to make the most of his best qualities. We're convinced we've got a player with an incredible present and future. We just need to build that connection, which will come through games, training... He's only been here a short time," Simeone assessed.

Simeone also praised Pablo Barrios: "From the very first moment we saw him, we knew he was capable of everything that's happening to him now. We were thrilled when he won the Olympics, playing as a central midfielder, which he can do; and as an inside midfielder, he has a lot of qualities. We need him to stay calm, know that his teammates will help him keep growing, and understand that he can't let his intensity drop."

He also commented on Marcos Llorente: "I'm really pleased with the challenges. After a year or two of trying to find a key role for a player like Marcos, we found it as an inside midfielder during the season we won LaLiga. With other types of players joining the midfield, he can clearly play, but we need to maximize his physical potential, both in attack and defense."

"This pushes Molina to step up, to show why he's a World Cup and Copa América champion. We need him because Llorente can't always keep up that pace, and we've got an extraordinary player in Molina," he added.

"We've got important players, new arrivals, and young players full of excitement, and we need to manage it all in the best way possible," Simeone pointed out.

"The players know that we want to win, that we always aim for what we believe is best for the team. Sure, we might make mistakes, but we're always looking for what benefits the team the most. I have no commitments to anyone. I want what I saw today—a team that starts strong, controls the game well, and where the subs can help us keep playing at a high level, contributing to what's important for all of us, which is the club," he stated.

Regarding the match, Simeone emphasized "the huge importance of focus, staying calm, and never losing our shape."

"That’s what stopped Girona from creating their usual scoring chances because they usually generate a lot of offensive play. The goal gave us more confidence going into the second half, which we managed from start to finish with solid defense and counterattacks," he said.

"I take away a lot of positives, a lot of balance, and that allowed us to play well against a really tough opponent," he added.