Diego Simeone Is One Of The Best In The World – Pep

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola warned his players to beware the threat of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semifinals.

Guardiola stressed that Atletico had beaten Barcelona twice in the past three Champions League campaigns, knocking them out on their way to the 2014 final and defeating them in this year’s last eight.

“Barcelona have dominated in the past few years and remain the best team in Europe,” he told a news conference. “And Atletico have been the only team able to beat Barcelona twice. They know what they have to do.”

Guardiola praised Atletico coach Diego Simeone, describing him as one of the finest managers on the planet.

“I have never played with Simeone or trained with him,” he added. “But he has a lot of trust in his idea, in his team. The players follow him. He is one of the best in the world.

“They have reached a new level. When you see them play, you think: ‘Wow.’ And when you want to reach the final, you have to beat one of the best teams in the past five seasons.”

He said Atletico could boast “the best atmosphere in Europe” at their Estadio Vicente Calderon, where the first leg will be played.

That theme was echoed by sporting executive Matthias Sammer, who said: “It’s going to be great test. Our team also has a lot of experience, and players who can set the tone.

“It’s going to be extreme, but that’s part of our opponent, and I respect that.”

Captain Philipp Lahm told Bayern’s official website: “It’s not an easy task. They are an aggressive team. It’s not for nothing that they have eliminated Barcelona.”