Simeone also hailed the Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, saying the Spaniard has accomplished an extraordinary feat at the North London club.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, has described Arsenal as the ‘best team’ his players have faced in this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL), following a disappointing defeat in the semi-finals of the competition.
The Argentine tactician made this known after the highly consequential encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The first leg in Madrid, Spain, ended in a 1-1 draw, and another tightly contested match in North London was decided by Bukayo Saka’s goal in the first half.
With the win, Arsenal secured their spot with a 2-1 aggregate victory, reaching their first Champions League final in two decades.
Speaking to reporters after the encounter, Simeone admitted that Arsenal were the superior team across both legs of the semi-final.
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He hailed the Gunners’ boss, Mikel Arteta, saying the Spaniard has accomplished an extraordinary feat at the North London outfit.
“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,” Simeone said.
He added: “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.”
Arsenal, who hold a five-point advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League, will now wait for the winner of the other semi-final between Bayern Munich and PSG.
