Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says he does not think the fall-out from last weekend's fan violence will affect his players in Saturday's La Liga game at Elche.
Deportivo La Coruna ultra Javier Romero Taboada [widely known as Jimmy] died after a pre-organised fight with radical Atletico Madrid fans before Sunday's fixture, leading to a week full of condemnation of such violence and planning to avoid similar incidents in future.
The Frente Atletico ultras group have been banned from the Vicente Calderon, and talks between football and government authorities have led to a plan for clubs who do not deal with the problem to face punishments including potential points-deductions and even relegation.
While being aware that something had happened before the game Atletico's players beat Deportivo 2-0 last weekend, and amid the continuing fall-out Simeone's side won 3-0 in Wednesday's Copa del Rey last-32 first leg at third tier L'Hospitalet.
The Colchoneros coach told a news conference that he and his team would again need to put off-field issues aside and concentrate on getting three points in a difficult game at Elche.
"We must let the people who take these decisions do their work," Simeone said. "We try and help so that it is the best for everyone. The team performed well on Sunday after what had happened, and we are facing into a difficult game, away from home, where we will need to quickly get into the action."
A knee injury picked up at L'Hospitalet means Atletico left-back Cristian Ansaldi is out of action until 2015, meaning Guilherme Siqueira is now set for another chance to prove himself in the team. Siqueira has had a difficult start at Atletico, missing a penalty in the defeat at Valencia and getting sent off in the loss at Real Sociedad, but Simeone said he trusted the ex-Granada and Benfica player had learned from his experiences so far.
"Football is about opportunities," he said. "Siqueira has been working well, although maybe he was a bit unlucky with some of the decisions he has made. He is very good in attack and defensively he is improving. We trust in him and hopefully he can respond in these games."
Elche now sit 18th in the table, after losing 3-0 in La Liga at Real Sociedad last weekend, and a team low on goals this term then drew 0-0 in the Copa at second division Valladolid on Tuesday.
Simeone said his side must take the game very seriously, and not let their minds drift ahead to Wednesday's Champions League group decider at Juventus.
"We must play with intensity to bring the game to a place which suits us," he said. "It will be a tough game. We are not yet thinking about Juventus."