Simeone vs Atletico Madrid - Simeone warns of Sevilla challenge

Posted Saturday, October 22, 2016 by PA

Diego Simeone believes Atletico Madrid are set to face the best Sevilla side he has ever seen.

The Argentinian tactician takes his LaLiga title challengers to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan with Atletico topping the table by a single point from Real Madrid and Jorge Sampaoli's Sevilla.

Simeone feels his compatriot, the former Chile boss who succeeded three-time Europa League-winning coach Unai Emery in the summer, has brought the Andalusians to the next level this term.

Addressing the press on Saturday afternoon, he said: "It will already be clear to you how much better they are now than in previous seasons. It doesn't seem fair that they've not won the title recently.

"This year they've brought in players with different characteristics and they're more competitive as a result. They have clear ideas about pressing and attacking, which their coach has taught them.

"That makes them dangerous."

Simeone played for Sevilla in the 1990s and is looking forward to returning on Sunday afternoon.

Quoted in Marca, he added: "Going back to Seville is always special, I remember what my life was like there when I was a kid, and I felt real warmth from the fans at one of the best stadiums in Europe.

"However, all that matters now is the present and I'm leaving everything else in the past."

This week saw Belgium striker Yannick Carrasco sign a new six-year deal at the Vicente Calderon, and Simeone was quick to praise a player who scored a hat-trick against Granada last time out.

The Atletico boss added: "He's improving all the time and the contract renewal is a reward for all his hard work. He's improved a lot tactically and is able to play in different areas.

"That makes it harder for opponents to mark him. He still has things to work on, though."

While Sevilla are emerging as a force to be reckoned with, Sampaoli is sure Atletico are already among the best teams on the continent.

He told sevillafc.es: "We know the opponent we are facing is one of the best in Spain, and in Europe, so we are going to play very well against a side which has been developed over a long period.

"This match is against a team who are fighting for the league and so they have twice the motivation.

"Hopefully we can manage to do what very few teams manage to do... hurt them."