Simeone urges Alvarez to find scoring touch before Manchester United test

Diego Simeone has called on Julian Alvarez to continue improving as Atletico Madrid prepare to face Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Argentina striker has yet to score for Atletico this season, having made a slow start to the campaign after attempting to leave the club in the summer for a move to Spanish champions Barcelona.

Simeone, however, stressed that Alvarez offers more to the team than his finishing ability.

“I think strikers with Julian's characteristics always need goals, not just him,” the Atletico manager told reporters on Monday.

“It's true that beyond his finishing, he's a team player, a player that can link very well, he can assist, and he's got many more tools than just goalscoring.”

Alvarez came close to opening his Atletico account against Alaves on Saturday, hitting the post after coming on as a substitute. Atletico won the match to move second in La Liga.

“He had a good second half in Saturday's game and we hope that he can keep growing and arriving to the place where we all want to see him,” Simeone said.

The 27-year-old did score for Argentina in a friendly against Burkina Faso during the recent international break, but remains without a goal in five appearances for Atletico this season.

Manchester United travel to the Spanish capital hoping to build on their opening-day rout of Sabah. Atletico, meanwhile, lost their first league-phase match at Liverpool.

The two sides come into Tuesday's match in contrasting form. Atletico have won their past four games, while Michael Carrick's Manchester United are without a victory in four matches in all competitions since beating Sabah.

United have also endured their worst start to a Premier League season in 40 years.

The Champions League final will be held at Atletico's Metropolitano stadium in June, but Simeone said the prospect of reaching that stage was not influencing his preparations.

“Reality is the day-to-day, game by game,” he said.

Simeone expects a demanding contest against Manchester United and warned his side they would need to manage their energy carefully.

“The game will be long, it will be tough, and we have to manage our efforts to compete well,” he said.