Diego Simeone declined to answer a question about Julian Alvarez after Atletico de Madrid were beaten 3-0 by Athletic Club in the fourth round of La Liga.
The Atletico head coach was asked at his post-match news conference to comment on Alvarez’s actions after half-time. The forward did not go out for the warm-up after the interval, prompting a question about the incident following the match in which the Madrid side were comfortably defeated by the club from Bilbao.
Simeone did not provide a response to the question about the Argentina international.
Alvarez remained at Atletico de Madrid after the summer transfer window and eventually entered the game in the 59th minute. He replaced Lee Kang-in, but was unable to change the outcome as Athletic Club secured a three-goal victory.
The forward had one notable opportunity after coming on. In the 71st minute, Alvarez produced a shot that was saved by the goalkeeper.
His appearance was therefore limited to the final stages of the match, after he had initially stayed off the pitch when the second half began. The circumstances surrounding his absence from the warm-up were put to Simeone during the media briefing, but the manager chose not to address the matter.
For Atletico, the defeat ended the game with a clear scoreline in favour of Athletic Club. The result came in the fourth round of La Liga, with Simeone’s side unable to find a way back into the contest despite introducing Alvarez before the hour mark.
The match also marked another occasion on which Alvarez featured for Atletico after remaining with the club beyond the most recent transfer window. He was introduced in place of Lee Kang-in and later tested the Athletic Club goalkeeper with an effort, but that attempt was kept out.
Simeone’s decision not to respond left the question about Alvarez’s half-time routine unanswered in his post-match media appearance. The coach’s comments were sought specifically because the striker had not joined his team-mates for the warm-up after the interval.
Athletic Club’s 3-0 success was the central result of the evening, while Alvarez’s late involvement and the question surrounding his warm-up became the main talking point at Simeone’s press conference.