Diego Simeone Insists Arsenal Lack Champions League Supremacy

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has hailed Inter Milan as the strongest team in this season’s Champions League, even after his side handed the Italian giants their first defeat of the campaign on Wednesday night.

Atletico secured a dramatic 2-1 victory at the Metropolitano thanks to a stoppage-time winner, ending Inter’s unbeaten run and reigniting their own qualification hopes. The result also leaves Arsenal as the only remaining unbeaten side in the competition following their impressive 3-1 win over Bayern Munich.

But despite overseeing the victory, Simeone was full of admiration for Inter, insisting that Simone Inzaghi’s side remain the toughest test in Europe.

“There’s no doubt about it — Inter are the strongest team in the Champions League right now,” Diego Simeone told reporters after the match.

“That’s why we played a first half to hinder their play. We knew that in the second half we could express our full repertoire, with top-class players like Griezmann, [Alexander] Sorloth, and Nico Gonzalez, who came on very well and allowed us to score in the final move.”

Diego Simeone praised the unity and belief within his squad, highlighting the impact of the substitutes who helped turn the game around late on.

“You have to work with faith, love, and quality,” he continued. “I have players who follow me, and that’s crucial for every coach. Today there were strikers on the bench who wanted to start, and when they came on, they showed their worth.”

The Argentine tactician’s latest comments mark a noticeable shift from last month when he labelled Arsenal as the best team Atletico had faced this season, following a heavy 4-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking after that loss, Diego Simeone admitted:

“Yes, I would say [Arsenal are] the best team we have faced this season. They compete so well — their players run and run and they have quality all over the pitch. They deserved to win, and I want to congratulate them.”

While Diego Simeone continues to show respect for Europe’s elite, his side’s victory over Inter represents a significant morale boost. Atletico will now look to build on that momentum as they continue to chase progress in both La Liga and the Champions League knockout stages.