Simeone: If Lou Normand Is Ready… Consistency Is Key to Overcoming Caserino

Diego Simeone, coach of Atletico Madrid, stated on Wednesday that his defender, Ruben Lou Normand, will be available to play in the second round of the Copa del Rey tomorrow (Thursday) against Caserino after recovering from a brain injury.

According to Reuters, Lou Normand (28 years old) sustained a serious brain injury after a collision with Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni during the late stages of their 1-1 draw on September 29, requiring medical care on the field.

Lou Normand has played in eight matches for Atletico since joining from Real Sociedad in the summer transfer window, following Spain’s victory in the European Championship.

Simeone told reporters: “First and foremost, we were focused on the player’s health. That was the priority for the club, the doctors, and the physiotherapists. Afterward, the player started regaining his fitness and is now ready to compete starting tomorrow. The enthusiasm he brings makes him extremely happy and excited to help the team.”

Atletico, having won their last seven matches, seeks to extend their winning streak across all competitions, but Simeone emphasized that “the team needs to maintain consistency throughout the season.” He added: “There are things we need to improve, the team is evolving as a group, and I always refer to this group as the team, whether in attack or defense. From that standpoint, we need to maintain this consistency, which is the hardest thing to sustain over the course of a season.”

Simeone also mentioned that the competition for spots in the squad benefits Atletico, as the team focuses on training to improve their performance against Caserino, who have an impressive home record. He stated: “Our motto is to wear the Atletico jersey every match—it’s a great opportunity. Many people want to be in our position, and we need to solidify that. Through that, we will work on selecting a team to try to beat Caserino, who have performed very well at home and will compete just as they did against Real Madrid last year.” Simeone hopes for the return of forward Antoine Griezmann on Friday, confirming that he will miss the match against Caserino.