Atletico Madrid will not lose the focus on their ambition to secure a top-eight place in the Champions League table according to head coach Diego Simeone.
Atleti are fifth in the rankings prior to their last game to RB Salzburg, who cannot be eligible for the next phase of the tournament after six defeats of seven, and knows that a victory will take them directly to the round of 16.
The side of Simeone lost first place in Laliga to Real Madrid in the weekend after a 1-1 draw against Villarreal, but he was convinced that nothing distracted his team in European duty.
“We don't think about anything else than tomorrow's game, we want to do it in the best possible way. We will compete against a young, dynamic team,” Simeone told a press conference.
“They will want to finish the Champions League well. The game is very important and we want to bring it to them where it will harm them.
“When this new tournament started, we hope we were from the top eight. It is difficult and will be difficult. There will be difficulties that we will encounter.”
16 – Atletico de Madrid has taken 16 points from losing positions in LaLiga 2024/25, most of each team in Europe's top five competitions this season. Timely. pic.twitter.com/msj2tzzb9
– Optajose (@Optajose) January 25, 2025
Simeone has previously spoken about the challenges associated with the new Champions League format, with only the top eight to bypass the play-off round-nine to 24th in advance will be confronted in a two-legged knockout rounds.
But he acknowledged that he thought the big teams would still find a way despite hardships.
“I don't look too much at everything to make with who can qualify and who can't,” said Simeone.
“The big teams always come from difficult situations and I don't doubt that they will eventually fight to win the Champions League.”
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