Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has declared Inter Milan the “strongest team in the Champions League.” This statement followed his team’s thrilling 1-0 victory over the Italian giants on Wednesday night.

Jose Maria Gimenez’s 93rd-minute goal secured a dramatic win for Atlético. This marked their second consecutive victory in European competition. The result lifted Atlético to 12th in the 36-team group stage. They are now just one point shy of the top eight. A top-eight finish guarantees a spot in the round of 16.

Simeone’s High Praise for Inter Milan

Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, Simeone praised Inter’s quality. He also detailed his team’s careful strategy. “There’s no doubt,” Simeone stated, “Inter are the strongest team in the Champions League right now. That’s why we played a first half to hinder their play.”

He continued, “We knew that in the second half we could express our full repertoire. We have top-class players like Griezmann, Sorloth, and Nico Gonzalez. They came on very well and allowed us to score in the final move.”

Simeone expressed satisfaction with the outcome. He emphasized his personal coaching philosophy. “It was very nice, but the idea, regardless of the result, was the same. I don’t know how to live in my comfort zone; I prefer to stay that way.” He added, “You have to work with faith, love, and quality. I have players who follow me. That’s crucial for every coach. Today, strikers on the bench wanted to start. When they came on, they showed their worth.”

Contrasting Views: Arsenal Previously Hailed

Simeone had previously identified Arsenal as the toughest team his side faced this season. This assessment came after Atlético’s heavy 4-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium last month.

Speaking to Amazon Prime then, he commented: “I would say they are the best team we have faced this season. They compete so well. They run and they run, and they have quality all over the pitch. We have to put this behind us now. We need to focus in training on the things that went right. We also need to make improvements.”