Diego Simeone praises Chelsea as the ‘most intense’ team he’s ever faced at Atlético Madrid

Last week, Chelsea followed up our best showing of the season — if not best showing ever in a Champions League group stage away game — with one of the worst of the season. Whlie Chelsea were irrepressible on Wednesday, pressing Atlético, controlling the game, and dominating in just about every phase of the game, on Saturday, it was the exact opposite, as Manchester City throughly out-played and out-thought the Blues.

So which is the “real” Chelsea? Hopefully the former.

“We had never faced a team with the intensity of Chelsea. We struggled to press them effectively. We improved when (Antoine) Griezmann went on (Tiemoue) Bakayoko and left David Luiz free. But we were imprecise.”

Simeone, who also talked up English clubs in general as forces to be reckoned with once again on Europe’s biggest stage, was clearly in awe of Chelsea’s display, as were we and many others. If that’s the “real” Chelsea, we don’t have much to worry about for the rest of the season.

P.S.: Meanwhile, Simeone also talked briefy about the resolution to the whole Costa situation, though I can’t really bring myself to be bothered beyond including those quotes here.

“Last year we were close. I spoke a lot with him. If he had not made the effort this summer the transfer would not have been possible. Of the players of his level he is the one for us. Another one of that level or better and we would not be able to afford.

“Of all the players I have had he is the one that has surprised me the most. He brings together all the qualities of goals, workrate, effort and leadership.”

-Diego Simeone; source: Mail