Atletico needed win at Celta, says Simeone

Diego Simeone hailed a much-needed victory over Celta Vigo after Atletico Madrid’s four-game winless run in all competitions was ended on Sunday.

While Atleti are unbeaten in LaLiga, a Champions League reverse against Chelsea and consecutive draws against Leganes, Barcelona and Qarabag had threatened to give their season a rather concerning complexion.

But Kevin Gameiro, returning to the starting line-up after injury, netted in Vigo to hand Atleti the hard-fought three points that their poor form demanded, as Simeone acknowledged.

“This victory is very important because it was needed,” he said. “It leaves us in a good moment.

“It was a long wait for a victory – that’s why we worked as we worked. The important thing is that we proved to know how to suffer and we do not care what we must do to get a result.

“We faced a team that was scoring in every game. The victory is good.”

28′ | 0-1 | GAL, GAL, GAL! @kevingameiro9 scores the first goal of the match!#CeltaAtleti pic.twitter.com/ZrEnWBA9Ys

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) October 22, 2017

Atleti have another eight games between the Celta clash and the end of November – including a Madrid derby and two key European fixtures – and Simeone is now hopeful his team can kick on.

“We hope that this will free us in the face of what is coming,” he added. “It is a complex week [with matches against Elche and Villarreal] in which we will look at how we can be the best possible.

“We needed this victory. There are teams that have that need and today Atletico did.”