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Simeone has been speaking | Getty Images
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has been speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Arsenal.
Meanwhile. Atletico Madrid have had mixed results, narrowly losing to Liverpool but thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt. It hasn’t been a comfortable start to the season for Atletico, who started their La Liga campaign rather slowly, but they have rallied back over recent weeks and are now in fourth place and just a point behind Villarreal in third.
As for the Champions League, every point and every game matters in this new format that sees even some of the best teams in the competition jostling for position among the qualifiers for the knockout round.
Atletico have easier games - on paper - to come after back-to-back games with the Premier League’s top two from last season, but they have often proved difficult opposition for the best sides in Europe with their stubborn approach, and the Spanish club will be eyeing a result here.
“We're going up against a very good team with an incredible style of play and game management skills,” Atletico boss Simeone said. “They have an identity that they don't compromise on; on the contrary, they improved it by signing what they need. They've fought until the end in recent league titles, demonstrating the team's identity. Tomorrow we're sure to experience a very fast-paced match.
“We envision a high-intensity match. They're also very good at dropping back. With our characteristics, with what we've been working on... We'll try to take the match where we can do damage."
Asked what advice he might give the less experienced Mikel Arteta, Simeone added: “What he's done since he arrived. Maintain the identity he's had from the very beginning."
Atletico are currently just outside the automatic spots for the knockout stage, one point behind at this still early stage, though they are in a play-off spot. Ahead of this one, Simeone was asked whether he saw a win as vital. He responded: “The good thing about life is that opinions about everything arise. We know our path, we know what we're playing for. We've been evolving, and we're looking forward to getting a win away from home, and in the Champions League, which we need."
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