Atletico Madrid director reacts to ‘extremely difficult’ Tottenham draw in Champions League
Atletico Madrid’s director of football, Mateu Alemany, has revealed the club’s feelings about being drawn against Tottenham in the round of 16 stage of the Champions League.
The La Liga side overcame Club Brugge in the knockout playoffs, and they could have been drawn against either Spurs or Liverpool, both of whom had directly qualified to the R16 stage.
A couple of days ago, Tottenham found out that they will take on Atletico Madrid in the next round, with the Lilywhites having the advantage of playing the second leg at home.
Igor Tudor has hinted that the Champions League is on the back burner for Spurs at the moment, given their situation in the Premier League.
Mateu Alemany insists Tottenham will pose a tough challenge to Atletico Madrid
Atletico are sitting in third place in La Liga, while Tottenham are currently fighting to secure their Premier League status at the bottom end of the table.
However, Alemany insists that the Spanish side will not be taking Spurs lightly, referring to the North Londoners as a ‘top-level team’.
The Atleti director told Mundo Deportivo (as relayed by Sport Witness): “Either opponent would have been extremely difficult. You have to look at their European record, which has been brilliant. A top-level team, a Premier League favourite, whatever the draw, it was going to be tough. The important thing is to focus on our performance.”
Alemany plays down impact of tight calendar ahead of Spurs clash
Atleti will play their Champions League clash with Tottenham after taking on Barcelona in the Copa del Rey a week before, while they will have to travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for a Madrid derby just four days after the second leg against Spurs.
That may give Igor Tudor’s men a slight advantage, but Alemany has refused to use the crowded fixture list as an excuse.
He added: “We know we’re in the highest level of competition, facing the highest level of rivals and difficulty. It depends on the opponent, their ability to rotate their squad in their domestic league. Whatever happens, we can’t change it; we’ll accept it and adapt.”
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