Diego Simeone opens up on 'pressure' and aim to 'hurt' Arsenal in Champions League
· Yahoo Sports
Diego Simeone has admitted he is "dreaming" of finally tasting glory on his "extraordinary" UEFA Champions League journey. Atletico Madrid manager Simeone, who will mark his 56th birthday on the eve of Wednesday's game against Arsenal, has now reached four semi-finals yet has never lifted the trophy.
Despite this, Simeone remains convinced his underdogs can go all the way this time and cautioned that his side can "hurt" Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta's team.
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Simeone said, via The Mirror: "It's extraordinary that Atletico Madrid is in a Champions League semi-final again after nine years and after doing it for the fourth time in 14 years, if I'm not mistaken.
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"That really is wonderful, it's incredible, incredible. And I think that faith, that excitement, that contagiousness that our people transmit to us will do us a lot of good.
"We are going to face a tough game with a very good opponent and with a set-piece strategy, as you well said at the beginning, that is very well worked, and well, here we go with all the excitement.
"I always say that dreaming is good, but reality is what happens on earth. And what happens on earth is what we do and what God wants. So that's how we behave.
"Honestly, pressure no, there's no pressure. There's responsibility. There is the excitement of being close to a huge goal that the club has never achieved. And of course, there is a special excitement.
"And we have to prepare well, we're going to play the game we want to play, the game we imagine, and as I always say, take the game where we want so we can hurt them.
"It will be a hard game, but we believe we can stop them. They are a good team with good set-pieces. But I think football doesn't owe anyone anything.
"Things are deserved and achieved, and for that you have to work and seek them, and obviously, that lady luck also has to be behind you."