Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hailed the remarkable legacy of Diego Simeone as the Gunners prepare to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta’s side have won both of their opening group matches, defeating Athletic Club and Olympiacos, but he insists they must be at their absolute best to secure all three points against the Spanish giants.
The Arsenal manager reserved high praise for Simeone, who has guided Atletico to eight major trophies and three Champions League final appearances during his 14 years in charge.
“I think what he’s done since he got to Atletico has been outstanding, not only what he has achieved but the way he’s done it,” Arteta remarked.
“I think the identity that he has created to the club, to the team, the spirit, I think they are very simple and clear to identify and that’s because the manager is very much them. And that’s extremely difficult to achieve for a short period of time and to do it for 14 years, I think he’s been there now, he’s done something incredible so yeah, a pleasure to meet him.”
The Wanda Metropolitano heavyweights sit fourth in La Liga and have three points from their opening two Champions League matches. Arteta believes the Madrid side’s intensity and discipline make them one of the toughest teams to break down in Europe.
“First of all, the willingness to win,” he said. “You can sense that in every single ball, in every single yard, the way they play, so it’s about how they compete and then after how they play.
“I think there are two very different things, and in order to have to analyse what they are, the level of organisation is really high, the level of discipline is really high and then they have acquired a lot of talent throughout the years that are very specific for the needs and the way they want to play and they are very, very good at exploiting those opportunities.”
He added: “They have evolved as well as a team from where they were probably a year ago to now, and how they can change in relation to the context of the match, which is something very specific for this team.
“In order to prepare in the best way, you want to give [the players] everything, but be able to simplify the information and make it as concrete and as clear as possible for us being in the best position to implement what we want to do tomorrow.”
As the North London side aims to maintain their perfect start in Europe, Arteta knows that facing Simeone’s well-drilled side will be a tactical and emotional test: one that could define the rhythm of their Champions League campaign.
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