Simao calls for improvement

(GSM) – Atletico Madrid winger Simao Sabrosa has urged his team to put their Copa del Rey progress aside and focus on improving their position in La Liga when Malaga visit the Vicente Calderon on Sunday.

Quique Sanchez Flores’ side advanced past Segunda Division side Celta Vigo on Thursday night to the cup semi-finals, thanks to a Diego Forlan’s strike.

Apart from the cup run, the Rojiblancos are far from the expectations in the Primera Division standings and are keen to climb from their current position of 11th into the top half of the table as soon as possible.

“The priority now is not the cup, but the match against Malaga,” said 30-year-old Simao.

“In La Liga we’re not where we should be. Atletico should be higher, as in the previous two years. Our main goal is beat Malaga and get three points.”

The Madrid side, in recent weeks, rapidly moved up the table thanks to three wins in a row prior to last weekend. But that excellent run was abruptly halted by a 1-0 defeat to local rivals Getafe.

That result meant Atletico finished the first half of the league campaign in the bottom half of the standings.

The Portuguese continued: “We have to go game by game, picking up points to reach the place we want to be. Now we are in mid-table and therefore cannot look up as far as fourth, but to one position above.

“We have to beat Malaga to cut the points to the teams ranked in the higher positions.

“Against Malaga you have to be very focused to get the three points.

“We play at home and we will have the fans on our side as they have been lately so that will make it easier.”