- Title: Dortmund one of Europe's best teams - Simeone
- Date: 5th November 2018
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (NOVEMBER 5, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ATLETICO MADRID PLAYERS WARMING UP FORWARD ANTOINE GRIEZMANN AND TEAM MATES WARMING UP CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BALLS ON GROUND CENTRE BACK DIEGO GODING AND RIGHT BACK JUANFRAN TORRES WARMING UP LEFT BACK FILIPE LUIS AND TEAM MATES TRAINING GOALKEEPER JAN OBLAK BLOCKING BALLS VARIOUS OF PLAYERS STRETCHING ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE WALKING DURING SESSION PLAYERS PASSING BALL FILIPE LUIS CHASING BALL JUANFRAN PASSING SIMEONE GRIEZMANN TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE AND LEFT BACK LUCAS HERNANDEZ ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE SAYING: "Regarding the rival, I repeat, Borussia Dortmund is one of the best teams in Europe and as a consequence they are first in their league, they haven't lost a game in Champions League, nor their league and they play very well. They are playing spectacular football and it's clear that if they keep up with this level they have big chances of being the German champion." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE, TALKING ABOUT ANTOINE GRIEZMANN, SAYING: "He (Antoine Griezmann) is in a great moment, he did a fantastic season last year and this year little by little he's starting to appear again. The team and the group needs him and let's hope he keeps improving because he has a lot to give. He's very young and he plays in a team where he has team mates that he represents very well. Let's hope he can keep in this line because that's what we need." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE, TALKING ABOUT THE COPA LIBERTADORES FINAL, SAYING: "As an Argentinean I'm happy, very happy. Last season Lanus made it to the Libertadores final and this year River and Boca repeat the Libertadores final. It speaks very well about the development of Argentinean football has had over the last two years. This is very good for all Argentineans and it will be a fantastic game, with a lot of hope and passion and I hope it takes place with peace and calm, like it should be" NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID LEFT BACK LUCAS HERNANDEZ SAYING: "We are not looking for revenge. We prepare the match as an important Champions League game. I'm really looking forward to play another match with this people (Atletico fans) that will keep supporting us. It's an important Champions match and we want it to get started and to give it all." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS SIMEONE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM VARIOUS OF BORUSSIA DORTMUND PLAYERS TRAINING AT WANDA METROPOLITANO STADIUM STRIKER PACO ALCACER DURING SESSION RAIN AT STADIUM PLAYERS WARMING UP FORWARD MARCO REUS WARMING UP COACH LUCIEN FAVRE WITH BALL DURING SESSION MIDFIELDER AXEL WITSEL WARMING UP PLAYERS PASSING BALL FAVRE TALKING WITH STAFF MEMBER SESSION IN PROGRESS PLAYERS PASSING WITSEL TALKING ON PITCH GOALKEEPER ROMAN BURKI TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS WIDE OF WANDA METROPOLITANO STADIUM BORUSSIA DORTMUND COACH LUCIEN FAVRE AND GOALKEEPER ROMAN BURKI ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (German) BORUSSIA DORTMUND COACH LUCIEN FAVRE SAYING: "As I said before we have to prepare very well. Atletico lost 4-0 but that's part of the past. It was just one match and we know Atletico very well. They are one of the best European teams over the last seven or eight years. My colleague, the coach Simeone has done an excellent job and for me is one of the best coaches in the world. We have seen it in La Liga and in Champions League and they are one of the big rivals." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BORUSSIA DORTMUND COACH LUCIEN FAVRE, TALKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING DER KLASSIKER AGAINST RIVALS BAYERN MUNICH, SAYING: "I'm just thinking about Atletico Madrid (not on next match against Bayern Munich). As a coach we have to preview things but right now I'm just thinking about today's training session and tomorrow's match. Later we'll see." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BORUSSIA DORTMUND GOALKEEPER ROMAN BURKI SAYING: "They (Atletico Madrid) will be more aggressive and intense than the team we saw in Dortmund. They will be playing at their home and for sure will try to keep us out. However we will be well prepared in order to resist them in this match too." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS FAVRE AND BURKI LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 19th November 2018 21:19
- Keywords: Diego Simeone Roman Burki Lucas Hernandez Group A Borussia Dortmund Champions League UEFA Lucien Favre Atletico Madrid
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001958CJZZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Atletico Madrid coach Diego Someone said on Monday (November 5) that his side are taking on one of Europe's best teams when they meet in-form Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday (November 6).
Simeone praised the Bundesliga leaders ahead of the clash at the Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, and suggested they could become German champions if they keep their performance levels up.
Lucien Favre's visitors thrashed Atletico 4-0 in the reverse Group A fixture two weeks ago at Signal Iduna Park, and have maximum points in the group so far, with Atletico trailing by three points in second place.
Dortmund also top the Bundesliga by four points ahead of this Saturday's Der Klassiker against bitter rivals and reigning German champions Bayern Munich.
The Spanish side are third in La Liga, four points adrift of leaders Barcelona, but have a good recent Champions League pedigree having finished as runners-up in 2014 and 2016.
Atletico will be without key players as Diego Godin, Koke and Diego Costa due to injury, while Thomas Lemar and Stefan Savic are also missing.
Dortmund, who are unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions this season, could book their Champions League knockout spot with victory at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None