Coach Simeone: 'Barcelona is still the best team in the world'

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes Barcelona are still the world's number one team, despite the Catalan club's recent poor form.

» Priest Nguyen Dinh Thuc incites parishioners

Coach Simeone still has great respect for Barcelona. Photo: AFP

Barcelona have been under a lot of pressure lately. The Catalan club suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at PSG in the first leg of the Champions League knockout round. In La Liga, it was thanks to Lionel Messi's last-minute penalty kick that Barca were able to claim a 2-1 victory over minnows Leganes last weekend.

Barcelona's poor form has put coach Luis Enrique under great pressure. There is information that the Nou Camp team's board of directors is looking for a replacement for the 46-year-old coach. However, coach Simeone has spoken out to defend his colleague.

"Barcelona are still the best team in the world. It's been difficult to play against them over the years. With Enrique, they won eight titles. They're always a very difficult opponent and I don't think the game against PSG will be the same.

We have played three matches against Barcelona this season and we have had to play with the utmost effort but it was not enough. That shows they are still a stronger team than us," AFP quoted coach Simeone.

Barcelona won 1 and drew 2 matches against Atletico Madrid this season. Photo: AFP

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have met three times this season. In the first leg of La Liga, the two teams drew 1-1. However, in the Copa del Rey, Barca beat the Spanish capital team 3-2 on aggregate after two matches. However, in the Champions League, the Vicente Calderon team almost won the right to be in the quarter-finals after winning 4-2 at Leverkusen in the first leg of the round of 16.

Atletico Madrid are currently 4th in La Liga with 45 points, 6 points behind Barcelona and 7 points behind Real Madrid and Sevilla. Coach Simeone said their goal is to return to the top 3, not to compete for the championship.

"We only think about the match. This is a match against a direct opponent, a match where we have to win 3 points. We don't think about anything else because it's still too early. I think about the championship race. La Liga is always where Real Madrid or Barcelona have the decisive say," said coach Simeone.

According to TNO