Simeone Expresses Delight For Humble Gimenez Following Late Match-Winning Goal

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Diego Simeone expressed his joy for Jose Maria Gimenez, the modest Atletico Madrid defender, following his decisive performance against Inter. Gimenez scored with a header from Antoine Griezmann's excellent corner in the 93rd minute of Wednesday's Champions League match at the Metropolitano. This victory extends Atletico's unbeaten streak at home to 10 matches across all competitions this season.

Julian Alvarez made an early impact by scoring first. Since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, Atletico have netted more goals in the initial 10 minutes of Champions League games than any other team, with eight goals. However, Piotr Zielinski equalised for last season's runners-up, forcing Atletico to dig deep for their win.

The timing of Gimenez's goal, at 92 minutes and 31 seconds, marked the latest winning goal against Inter in a Champions League match. "Jose is a crucial player, one of our captains," Simeone said about Gimenez, who missed the start of the season due to a hamstring injury. "We need him like this; he brings the same energy to the team as other important players."

Simeone emphasised Gimenez's importance: "We need him in the best possible shape so he can continue giving us what he does. I looked at him and said, 'What a fantastic goal!' He's a fighter, a hard worker, a very humble guy, aware of what the team and his personal life mean to him, and we need him; he's one of our leaders. We're so happy he was able to score such a great goal."

Simeone also praised his entire squad: "I'm absolutely thrilled with the group, the team, and our understanding of how we played," he added. The first half presented challenges as they faced a tough opponent requiring them to break through pressure while maintaining defensive solidity and launching counter-attacks.

In contrast, Atletico displayed an entirely different level of play in the second half. They managed both halves brilliantly by adapting their tactics effectively throughout the game.

This victory places Atletico Madrid 12th in the Champions League standings. Their ability to remain unbeaten at home highlights their resilience this season. The team's performance reflects their determination and tactical flexibility under Simeone's leadership.