Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone may still have the Champions League return leg and Saturday's La Liga clash at home to Eibar to worry about, but it didn't stop him from having to address a rumour that he asked Alvaro Morata to cross the Madrid divide.
Spanish TV show Jugones replayed a clip from Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League semifinal first leg loss to Real Madrid that showed Simeone covering his mouth while saying something to Chelsea and Manchester United target Morata as the two passed each other near the sideline.
"I did not say that to [Morata]," he said. "I just made a joke as he passed by."
Atletico's loss at the Bernabeu make it very likely they will exit Europe's top competition to their neighbours for a fourth successive year, even ahead of the return game at the Vicente Calderon next Wednesday.
¡IMPERDIBLE! ¿Qué le dijo Simeone a Morata? TODOS los DETALLES YA en LaSexta. #JUGONES pic.twitter.com/vOwDOigFoL
- El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) May 5, 2017
Morata said he almost gave up football and took up tennis when he became disillusioned as a youngster in the Atletico Madrid academy.
On Saturday, Simeone's side have domestic issues to take care of -- as with three games remaining they are three points ahead of Sevilla in the battle for third spot in the table and automatic qualification for next season's Champions League.
The Colchoneros coach told the pregame news conference that his team were used to taking "hard blows" and he hoped the Calderon fans would pass on their energy and belief to his players with the tie against Real not over yet.
"We will see tomorrow," Simeone said. "This team has always responded well to hard blows, and tomorrow I expect the same. I also expect the Calderon to be closer to us than ever.
"These players have had an extraordinary season, they were behind Sevilla but caught them up, and now are in the Champions League semifinals with a chance to turn the tie around on Wednesday. If I were a fan I would need to go to the Calderon tomorrow and pass on my energy to the players."
Atletico's task will be clarified by Sevilla's result at home to Real Sociedad on Friday evening, but Simeone said he and his players would just be aiming to beat eighth-placed Eibar no matter what.
"This moment is very important as there are only three games left," he said. "We are working towards an important objective for the club, to finish among the top three. We still have our fate in our own hands. The truth is we need to win, and I don't believe that Sevilla's result will change much. We have been working very well in La Liga since 2017 began. Tomorrow's opponent have had a very consistent season and taken big steps in their growth."
With both senior right-backs Sime Vrsaljko and Juanfran Torres still out injured, and centre-back Stefan Savic suspended for Saturday's game, Simeone could call up Colombian underage international Andres Solano, 19, from the youth team, although Juanfran could return for Wednesday's semifinal second leg at home to Real Madrid.
"We see Lucas [Hernandez] as the best option at centre half," Simeone said.
"[At right-back] might be one of the kids, or another senior player. Juan is doing better, recovering very well from his injury. I will not call him up tomorrow, but I believe he will be available on Wednesday."
The Argentine suggested that no matter how the season ended he was proud of his players.
"We have had a fantastic season," he said. "The most difficult of my time at the club. To keep competing with all the difficulties we have had, the players missing, for me is enormous. We stil have to finish it off, there are still games to play.
"When the season ends the stats will show if it was good or bad. We are not Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, the best teams in the world. The club has grown over the last eight years, since before we arrived. Of course our six have been extraordinary, the best in the history of the club.
"In a short time we got close to these beasts, but the only path for us is to keep working as we have been doing."