Simeone explains Arnau's absence and backs out-of-form Lookman

Nacho Donado asked Simeone about Arnau and Lookman. The Atlético coach spoke about the big step up the academy graduate has made and acknowledged Lookman's dip in form, but insisted the club have enormous faith in him.

Nacho Donado, of El Club Uría, asked Simeone about two players competing for a similar role: Arnau, who has not been seen on the pitch for some time, and Lookman, whom the coach continues to back despite his performances.

On Arnau, Simeone explained that he is working with great enthusiasm and is young, but that the step up from where he was to where he is now is not easy, and that there are teammates ahead of him who are also competing for a place.

"He's working with great enthusiasm, he's young, and the step up from where he was to where he is now isn't easy. He has teammates competing for minutes, like Lookman, who, although he isn't at the level he gave us when he arrived, we have a lot of faith in – we know what he can give us. It's about showing the coach his progress in training so that he then gets opportunities," said Simeone.

On Lookman he was candid: he may not currently be at the peak he reached as soon as he arrived, but they have enormous faith in him, they need him and they know what he can offer. The recipe is the same for both: compete every day in training and show the coach and their teammates how they are developing so that opportunities follow.