Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, has praised Arsenal as the ‘best team’ that Atletico Madrid has encountered this season following his team’s disappointing defeat in the Champions League semi-final.
Simeone led his Atletico squad to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night with the hope of securing the club’s first Champions League final appearance since 2016.
The first leg concluded with a score of 1-1, and another tightly contested match in north London was decided by Bukayo Saka’s goal in the first half.
Arsenal not only secured their spot in their first Champions League final in two decades but are also nearing the Premier League title, holding a five-point advantage over Manchester City.
After the match, Simeone remarked to reporters, “Arsenal were the superior team across these two matches; they are the best team we have faced this season. They play with a rhythm and conviction that is extremely challenging to manage.
“I believe Mikel has accomplished an extraordinary feat at Arsenal.
“He has been striving to reach this milestone for a considerable time, aiming to qualify for the Champions League and to win the league.
“They possess remarkable financial resources, which are connected to their current success; I am genuinely happy for them. They have earned it through years of hard work.”
Meanwhile, PSG holds a slender one-goal lead over Bayern Munich ahead of their semi-final second leg, having achieved a thrilling 5-4 victory in Paris last week.