Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone attended the pre-match press conference ahead of the home game against Osasuna, where he confirmed that Álvarez would be unavailable.

Yesterday, Mourinho was surprised that the media didn't ask about the penalty in his press conference. Given that the Madrid derby is coming up this week, what do you think of the Real Madrid coach's eagerness to discuss penalties?

I have nothing to say.

Are you looking forward to a united atmosphere at the Metropolitano?

What we need to do is play an important match. Our opponents also need points, and we need our fans. Our recent games have been difficult, and we need the crowd to give us strength. The lads will turn that strength into fighting spirit on the pitch. We hope to see the kind of scene we're familiar with.

How is Álvarez?

We spoke with the team doctor today, and he is still recovering. He won't be able to play for us tomorrow.

What about David? Can he start?

He performed well when he came on as a substitute. We will assess whether he should start now or come on in the second half to help us. We'll decide tomorrow morning.

Do you feel that in the various analyses of each match, negative voices outweigh positive ones?

I'm not talking about the fixture schedule, but about rest time. We came back from Liverpool late at night, then went to San Sebastián to play Real Sociedad... Rest time is compressed, which is normal given the Champions League. We're used to negative voices; criticism appears whenever there's an opportunity. It also helps us improve, so there's nothing bad about it. The team is still being built; seven players left this summer, five came in, and we've promoted four or five young players from the academy... Coordinating all of that is far more complex than it seems. We have a very competitive team, and we will continue to improve as we play. That's how I see it: we're still in an integration period, we need time, but what's lacking in football is time.

How do you manage this schedule?

A three-week break is unprecedented, and we will find a way to adapt to it, just as we adapt to other changes. The lads are very proactive, and there are more and more matches, which is part of football. We must keep running and working hard because we chose the position we're in.

Yamal believes he and Mbappé are the best in the world. If it were you, who would you give the Ballon d'Or to?

Messi, without a doubt. Considering his outstanding performance at the World Cup at his age, there is no question that the Ballon d'Or goes to Messi.

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