leicester similarity breeds atletico caution
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Leicester similarity breeds Atletico caution

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Leicester similarity breeds Atletico caution

Leicester City's manager Craig Shakespeare (R)
Madrid - Arab Today

Atletico Madrid have grown accustomed to slaying Europe's giants in the Champions League under Diego Simeone, but ending Leicester City's run Wednesday may prove even tougher than ousting Barcelona or Bayern, according to Filipe Luis.

"We're not favourites. We don't believe that," said the Brazilian left-back on Monday despite the vast gulf in Champions League experience between the sides.

Atletico are in their fourth straight quarter-final and missed out by the narrowest of margins in two final defeats to cross-city rivals Real Madrid in the past three years.

However, the Spanish side are all too aware of what Leicester are capable of after the Foxes dumped out their La Liga rivals Sevilla en route to the last eight in their first ever appearance in the competition.

"Maybe for us we can play better against these teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid, because they have the ball and they control the game, but when we have to initiate the style of play it's not going to be easy," added Filipe Luis, who kept Gareth Bale quiet as Atletico held Real to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

"It's also going to be difficult for them because we know how to play these quarter finals. We have played three in the last three years, so we are prepared."

Filipe Luis said last season that Atletico had used Leicester's remarkable run to Premier League glory as inspiration as they saw off Barca and Bayern over two legs before falling just short against Real on penalties in Milan.

Whilst not on the scale of Leicester's title triumph, Atletico also upset the odds by breaking Barca and Madrid's hegemony when they won La Liga three seasons ago despite a huge financial disadvantage.

"The difference between teams' budgets is something to remember, but in the end it doesn't have to be definitive," Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said last week.

"It was the same for Leicester, they were competing with teams like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United so them winning the Premier League was a huge achievement."

More impressively, though, unlike Leicester, Atletico have been able to build a sustained period of success under Simeone.

Leicester's last visit to Spain back in February, when they lost 2-1 to Sevilla in the first leg of their last-16 tie, was the last straw for the club's Thai owners as title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri was sacked with the English champions plunging towards the Premier League relegation zone.

One of Ranieri's former assistants, Craig Shakespeare, was put in charge on a temporary basis until the end of the season and has overseen a dramatic turnaround in Leicester's fortunes.

Until Sunday's 4-2 defeat at Everton, Shakespeare had won all six games since taking over, including a 2-0 second-leg win over Sevilla, to move eight points clear of the drop zone. 

"It's about confidence," said Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who saved a penalty in each leg against Sevilla.

"Just as you can go on a losing run, you can go on a winning run as well. We've got the players to do that. We've always been capable of doing that."

Simeone, though, insists his analysis of Leicester hasn't been changed by their sudden upturn in form.

"For many people we are now facing a different team to the one we got in the draw," said the Argentine.

"But we always knew it was going to be a difficult, hard-fought game against a team that in many aspects is similar to ourselves."

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

leicester similarity breeds atletico caution leicester similarity breeds atletico caution

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

leicester similarity breeds atletico caution leicester similarity breeds atletico caution

 



GMT 10:10 2017 Thursday ,09 February

3 Important Elements You Have to Consider

GMT 04:03 2017 Monday ,24 April

Bella Hadid ‘dying’ to visit Palestine

GMT 19:25 2016 Wednesday ,25 May

The Brooklyn Desk by Oeuf NYC

GMT 07:49 2018 Friday ,05 January

2 Russian servicemen killed

GMT 07:58 2018 Monday ,01 January

Italy orders N. Korea's envoy to leave

GMT 08:45 2017 Wednesday ,20 December

US military imagines war without GPS

GMT 17:26 2017 Sunday ,17 December

Putin thanks Trump for help in foiling attack plot

GMT 22:19 2017 Monday ,16 October

Cairo-hosted Fatwa conf. new contribution

GMT 02:27 2016 Friday ,10 June

Video hints Japan abetting illegal ivory trade

GMT 07:04 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

1,883 Bahrainis found jobs in March

GMT 14:24 2016 Tuesday ,22 November

Citi and JPMorgan top list of ‘globally banks’

GMT 21:43 2017 Friday ,01 September

People question Nazaruddin`s repatriation expenses

GMT 09:41 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

OIC concerned over violence in Mali

GMT 01:30 2017 Friday ,27 October

May22/Jun21

GMT 05:38 2016 Friday ,30 December

Dubai Airports divert 13 flights due to heavy fog

GMT 11:38 2017 Saturday ,14 January

Mexico names new ambassador to US

GMT 12:03 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

Kuwait to mark World Water Day

GMT 15:00 2017 Wednesday ,27 September

HM King receives invitation from Egyptian President

GMT 02:45 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

President Bashir arrives in Chad

GMT 02:45 2017 Wednesday ,16 August

Turkmen President Visits Pakistan
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday