Simeone Fires Back: Alvarez’s Goal Drought Won’t Define Him, Not Even for a Journalist

Overview

Atlético Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone defended his Argentine forward Julian Alvarez, insisting the young striker does not need excuses to prove his abilities. The comments came ahead of a La Liga match against Mallorca, where Alvarez is under scrutiny for a recent goal drought.

Defensive stance

During a Saturday press conference, Simeone was confronted with questions about Alvarez’s scoring form and the doubts surrounding his output. He looked surprised and snapped, "Are you serious? Do you really mean that question?" He then argued that Alvarez believes in himself, thanks to the reputation he has built and the professional progress he has shown so far.

Context and implications

The forward has gone nine games without a league goal, with seven league goals in 20 appearances this season. Alvarez’s last La Liga strike came in a 3-0 win over Sevilla on November 1. The remarks come amid transfer chatter linking Alvarez with Barcelona as a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski should he leave Camp Nou at the end of the season.

In the broader picture, Simeone’s defense aims to keep Alvarez calm and focused, emphasizing confidence over doubt as Atlético look to rebound against Mallorca.

Caption under image: Simeone defends his star as Alvarez faces scrutiny ahead of the Mallorca clash.

Punchlines: If goals were emails, Alvarez’s inbox would be flooded. And if defense could score, Simeone’s would be in the top corner—twice, just to be safe.