Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, has paid tribute to Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone for his ‘outstanding’ work ahead of their meeting in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
Arteta’s Arsenal head into the game following a tight 1-0 win against Fulham in the Premier League over the weekend, keen to maintain their strong form that has seen them lose just once all season.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Arteta highlighted the difficulty of sustaining excellence and identity over such a long period.
“I think what he [Simeone] has done since he got to Atlético has been outstanding, not only what he has achieved but the way he has done it.”
He praised the identity Simeone has forged, noting how the manager’s character is reflected in the team’s spirit:
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Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid
“I think the identity that he has created for the club, for the team, the spirit, I think they are very simple and clear to identify, and that is because the manager is very much them.
“That is extremely difficult to achieve for a short period of time, and to do it for 14 years, I think he has been there now, he has done something incredible, so yeah, a pleasure to meet him.”
Arsenal have lost just once this season in all competitions, and will be keen to keep their good form going.
