Diego Simeone Praises Sorloth’s Versatility Following Commanding Victory Against Real Sociedad

Atletico Madrid’s manager, Diego Simeone, was full of praise for striker Alexander Sorloth following his remarkable feat of scoring all four goals in a dominant 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad during their LaLiga clash on Saturday.

Sorloth made headlines by achieving the quickest hat-trick in LaLiga history, netting three times within the first 11 minutes before rounding off his remarkable display with a fourth goal just before the half-hour mark.

“I was extremely pleased with the entire team’s first-half performance. Alex, of course, stands out on his own,” Simeone remarked at the post-match press conference.

“He had an incredible evening, particularly in that first 45 minutes, where he expertly converted every chance that came his way. This allowed us to seize control of the match and take it to a level we had never anticipated before it kicked off.”

Notably, Sorloth has emerged as Atletico’s top scorer in the league this season with 17 goals, despite having begun more matches from the bench (19) than in the starting XI (13).

“If we look at the stats, he’s netted more goals after coming on in the second half—except for today, of course,” Simeone explained.

The Argentine coach wasted no time in highlighting the forward’s other crucial contributions.

“What I appreciate about him is his ability to impact the game significantly in any situation or moment,” added Simeone.

“When we need to attack, he brings substantial offensive strength into the box. If we’re on the counter, his passing ability shines through. And when we face pressure and need to defend, his physicality helps us navigate tricky situations.

“He’s playing to the team’s needs and truly maximising his talent and goal-scoring abilities.“

Sorloth, who made the move to Atletico from Villarreal last August, acknowledged the pivotal role his teammates played in his impressive performance.

“The balls were landing perfectly for me, and my teammates were delivering stellar passes,” he stated.

“I’m thrilled… I hope to be competing in LaLiga for many more years and to enjoy more games like this. I found it challenging to hit the ground running at the season’s start. It was only in October and November that I began to find my rhythm. Now my teammates understand my playstyle much better.

“It reminded me of last season when I scored four goals against Real Madrid and had a shot that hit the woodwork. Today felt like a flashback.”

Sorloth previously had a two-season loan spell at Sociedad from Red Bull Leipzig, spanning from 2021 to 2023.