Plenty of Liverpool fans have been reacting to comments from Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash at Anfield in which the Argentine native hinted at his intentions to adopt a defensive approach given his team’s 1-0 advantage from the first leg.
As noted by This Is Anfield, the 49-year-old hailed his team’s defensive fortitude as “a very solid quality we have” and indicated that it would play into Liverpool’s hands if his team were to adopt a cavalier approach.
Diego Simeone admits defensive approach for Atletico at Anfield tonighthttps://t.co/OoAzrDnwlr
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) March 11, 2020
As per The Guardian, Simeone is a coach with a reputation for valuing defensive solidity and waiting to hit teams on the break, a strategy he can afford to adopt tonight with his team guaranteed to go through with a clean sheet. Atletico have conceded just 21 goals in 27 La Liga games this season, the second-best defensive record behind city rivals Real Madrid (19), while in their seven Champions League matches they have kept five clean sheets and shipped only four goals.
After witnessing Atletico deny their team a single shot on target in the first leg three weeks ago, these Liverpool fans on Twitter disparagingly stated that they weren’t the least bit surprised by Simeone’s remarks about taking a defensive mindset:
And guess what? Rain is wet.
— longman (@longman751y2) March 10, 2020
Really?
— Danae Robertson (@DanaeRobertson1) March 11, 2020
Is that all, they’ve been to #RADA for acting lessons aswell, hold your breathe they will be falling over at the thought of a sneeze ? dirty tackles, trying to con the ref and give red cards out @atletienglish #ynwa @Simeone @LFC @ChampionsLeague #RoundOf16
— @Ian_bill67 (@ian_bill67) March 11, 2020
Defensive and theatrical
— the4thofficialz (@the4thofficialz) March 11, 2020
— Mikey Stones (@BiohazardMikey) March 11, 2020
— Tzafnat (@Tzafnat) March 11, 2020
Liverpool fans, do you fully expect Atletico to set up defensively tonight? Can you see the Reds being able to breach their rearguard? Share your views in the comments section below!
