Atletico were held to a second consecutive goalless LaLiga draw when they failed to break down a resolute Real Valladolid side at Estadio Jose Zorrilla on Sunday and Simeone admitted his side were slow to get going.
The Rojiblancos improved in the second half but the closest they went to scoring was an Angel Correa shot that hit the post, leaving them with just one win from their past five league games, with Atleti failing to score in four of those.
Simeone gave credit to Valladolid, who missed a first-half penalty, saying: “The opponent was better in the first half. We did very little.
“In the second we were much better, it was more intense, we were more keen to show danger and we created a situation to win. The second half was closer to how we wanted to play from the start.”
Asked about his side’s problems in front of goal, after a third 0-0- draw in four LaLiga matches, Simeone said: “We need more precision, more forcefulness and anger.
“I see [Alvaro] Morata and [Diego] Costa have the intent, enthusiasm and desire to do things well and they have all my support.
“We have to wait, because they will find the answer for sure.”
Morata, who went close to scoring when his second-half shot hit the face of Valladolid goalkeeper Jordi Masip, said he felt his team-mates were affected by their midweek trip to Moscow in the Champions League.
Atletico beat Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 five days before their trip to Valladolid, with Joao Felix and Thomas Partey on the score-sheet.
“It is not easy to play after having played a game so far [Moscow],” said Morata.
“We are tired but there is no excuse.
“We are fine, it is not easy, LaLiga is more difficult than a few years ago. If we continue along this line we will be up there.”
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