Madrid [Spain], March 20: Coach Diego Simeone has started early mind games with Atletico Madrid's Champions League quarter-final opponents Barcelona and described them as the best attacking team in Europe.
Atletico progressed into the last eight after a scare at Tottenham in the last 16 second leg where they lost 3-2 on Wednesday night, but still triumphed 7-5 on aggregate.
It has set up another meeting with Barca after a recent Copa del Rey battle which Atletico edged by one goal over two legs and Simeone has seemingly made their LaLiga rivals the big favourites before next month's clash.
"When you get to the quarter-finals, it is a tough road ahead as it has been in previous years when we got to the final. It will be tough and we have to compete because we're probably up against the best team in Europe in how they attack," Simeone said.
"For me it is the best team in Europe going forward without any shadow of a doubt.
"The possibility of an exciting quarter-final with them, it will demand the best of us and we will need to be at a top standard to compete."
Simeone's team have not made it beyond the last-eight of the Champions League since 2017, which was a golden period for the club in Europe after they twice finished as runners-up in the competition.
The long-serving boss expressed his desire to continue to fight on multiple fronts with Atletico in the Copa del Rey final and eager to secure a top-three finish in La Liga.
"I am here where I want to be," Simeone insisted.
"We work hard to be in this position.
"There are a lot of people who work hard at this club and let's hope God willing we can go as far as we possibly can in this tournament."
Source: Qatar Tribune