Barcelona still the best, warns Atletico’s Simeone

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone insisted
Barcelona remain the best team in the world
despite their recent struggles ahead of the
sides third meeting this month on Sunday.
A poor opening first 45 minutes in the first leg
of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie cost
Atletico dear as wonder goals from Luis
Suarez and Lionel Messi put Barca well on
their way to a 3-2 aggregate win.
However, since then Barca have been thrashed
4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions
League and needed a last-minute Messi
penalty to see off lowly Leganes last weekend,
placing coach Luis Enrique in the firing line.
“Barca are still the best in the world,” said
Simeone on Saturday.
“It is very difficult to compete as they have in
the past decade. With Luis Enrique they have
eight trophies, competed at the highest level
and one bad game like against Paris can
happen to anyone.
“We played three extraordinary halves against
them and still didn’t get through, that shows
that they are better.”
By contrast, Atletico are well on course to
reach the Champions League quarter-finals for
a fourth straight year after a 4-2 win away at
Bayer Leverkusen in their last 16, first leg on
Tuesday.
Kevin Gameiro looks set to keep his place
ahead of Fernando Torres alongside Antoine
Griezmann up front as he shone brightest
despite all three getting on the scoresheet in
midweek.
Atletico will be further boosted by the return of
defensive lynchpin Diego Godin from injury,
whilst goalkeeper Jan Oblak could make his
first appearance since December after
recovering from surgery on a dislocated
shoulder.
Luis Enrique, meanwhile, is hoping a first
midweek off since the turn of the year is what
Barca needed to recharge their batteries and
recover their form.
“It is the first free midweek we have had in
2017. The schedule has been brutal and it is
evident that takes its toll,” said Enrique.
“The week allowed us to work on things, for
the team to rest and analyse what is going on
with the team.”
Real Madrid’s defeat to Valencia in midweek
means Barca still trail their title rivals by just
a point.
And Luis Enrique’s men can go top for at
least a few hours with victory at the Vicente
Calderon, with Madrid not in action until later
on Sunday at Villarreal.



SOURCE...VANGUARD