Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone has praised Inter Milan as the “strongest team in the Champions League” following his team’s dramatic 1-0 win over the Italians on Wednesday night.
Jose Maria Gimenez’s 93rd-minute strike secured the victory, giving Atlético back-to-back wins in Europe.
The result lifts Atlético to 12th in the 36-team group stage table, just a point off the top eight positions that guarantee a place in the round of 16.
Reflecting on the victory, Simeone emphasised Inter’s quality and the careful strategy his team employed.
He said: “There’s no doubt about it. Inter are the strongest team in the Champions League right now. That’s why we played a first half to hinder their play. We knew that in the second half we could express our full repertoire, with top-class players like Griezmann, Sorloth, and Nico Gonzalez, who came on very well and allowed us to score in the final move.
“It was very nice, but the idea, regardless of the result, was the same. I don’t know how to live in my comfort zone; I prefer to stay that way. You have to work with faith, love, and quality. I have players who follow me, and that’s crucial for every coach. Today, there were strikers on the bench who wanted to start, and when they came on, they showed their worth.”
Simeone had previously singled out Arsenal as the toughest team he faced this season after Atlético’s 4-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium last month.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, he said: “I would say they are the best team we have faced this season. They compete so well, they run and they run, and they have quality all over the pitch. We have to put this behind us now and we need to focus in training on the things that went right and we need to make improvements as well.”
Naija News reports that Arsenal extended their perfect start to the Champions League group stage with a win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, remaining the only side with a 100 per cent record.
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