Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone named Barcelona as his favourite opponents and showered high praise on Blaugrana counterpart Hansi Flick.

Simeone picks Barcelona as his favourite opponent

Atleti coach praises Hansi Flick for bringing the best out of players

Argentine opens up on Atletico’s slow start to La Liga season

WHAT HAPPENED?

Simeone admitted he enjoys preparing for games against Barcelona, praising their attack and the way they play as a team. At the same time, the Argentine confessed his frustration with Atletico’s consistent third-place finish behind Barca and Real Madrid. It hasn’t helped that his side has got off to a poor start this season, managing just two points from their first three matches.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Simeone, who has been in charge of Atletico since 2011, knows Barcelona better than most. He has faced them in countless domestic and European clashes, including four times last season. The Catalan giants came out on top in three of those meetings, knocking Atletico out of the Copa del Rey.

But the challenge for his side goes beyond just Barca. Atletico, who last won the league in 2021, have finished third in four of the last six seasons, stuck behind Barca and Real Madrid in those occasions. Third place might keep them in the Champions League, but for Simeone, it doesn’t feel like enough for a club that wants to push for more.

WHAT DIEGO SIMEONE SAID

Speaking to COPE’s El Partidazo, the Atleti coach praised Hansi Flick's side and revealed that he enjoys playing against their attacking team.

"They [Barcelona] attack well, they have verticality, the wingers are important... They have a great team and they play as a team. The best coaches are those who manage to bring out the best version of each player."

He also spoke about Atletico’s tendency to finish behind Barca and Real Madrid in La Liga, making it clear he isn’t satisfied with third place.

"I know we have to win. And I've known this for four years. If Atletico wants to continue growing and improving as a club and as a team, it has to win again. We won in 1996, 2014 and 2021 and... it's time. It's time, we have to win. I try not to get comfortable, not to relax, not to interpret that third place is enough for me, because it's not. Am I happy being third? No, it doesn't make me happy, but for the club it's extremely important to be third and I'm a club man."

WHAT NEXT FOR DIEGO SIMEONE

With the international break over, Atletico Madrid will look to bounce back from their slow start when they host Villarreal on September 13. While Simeone is convinced they will take off, he knows the pressure is on to turn things around quickly and push the club back into the title race. (GOAL)