Arne Slot has shared his thoughts on Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid as Liverpool prepare for their Champions League group opener.
The Liverpool boss underlined the challenge of facing Simeone’s side, citing their resilience, mentality, and consistency at the top of European football.
Atletico remain a team capable of frustrating even the strongest opponents, something Slot was keen to highlight before the group-stage clash.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said:
“Atletico Madrid has done so well in La Liga with Diego Simeone. This is a team that is difficult to play against because of the mentality, because of the team performance, because of the individual quality.”
Slot acknowledged their balance of collective organisation and individual talent, warning that his side must be prepared for a high-intensity contest at Anfield.
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Slot wary of Atletico’s defensive strength
Slot stressed the mental toughness and tactical organisation Simeone’s teams are known for, noting that Liverpool must respect both the collective strength and the match-winning ability of individual players.
While the Reds can rely on their attacking depth, including Alexander Isak—who is available but will not play 90 minutes—Slot made it clear the Spanish side’s approach will test his squad fully.
“There is definitely a chance because he is the squad. It’s 100% sure he will not play 90 minutes. He’s part of the squad. If people look forward to his playing time that could happen as well. The only thing that is sure he will not play 90.”
The manager’s comments underline that while Liverpool are confident in their squad, Atletico’s proven track record and competitive mentality make this group-stage opener a challenging encounter.
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Historical context adds to intensity
Liverpool and Atletico Madrid have developed a fiercely competitive European rivalry in recent years. Since 2019, the sides have met four times in the Champions League, with each team winning twice.
Last time they faced each other in the 2021–22 campaign, Liverpool defeated Atletico 2-0 at Anfield, showcasing their ability to overcome the Spanish side on home turf.
This evenly matched record underscores how tightly contested these fixtures have been, making Wednesday’s opener at Anfield a high-stakes encounter.
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