Ahead of welcoming them to Celta Vigo, Abel Resino has reflected that Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are probably the best Atleti side of the last 20 years.
Under Simeone, the capital club have reached the Copa del Rey Final and virtually secured third place in La Liga, on from Europa League and UEFA Super Cup triumphs.
Ahead of visiting Balaidos this midweek for Week 36’s rearranged fixture, opposing Coach and former Atleti man Resino cast his eye on Los Colchoneros.
“Most players at Atletico are internationals and are great names. Possibly this Atletico has the best defence in many years, even better than during the double, because I cannot remember a defence as compact as this,” the tactician told reporters this week.
“And possibly, they have the most compact team in years too. The problem is that they now have two great rivals, Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are much higher than they were last time. But in the last 20 years, this is the best Atletico that I can remember.”
Resino spent most of the calendar year of 2009 in charge of Atleti, on from nine years a player at the Vicente Calderon.
“I have great memories of Atletico, but my mind is on Celta. I have great friends there and that’s been my home for most of my playing career and then as a Coach, technical secretary, second Coach and goalkeeping Coach.
“The big teams always want to win in every field and I imagine that this game will be no different for them. Atletico are a great rival, the third team in Spain at the moment, and they are practically assured of that position, but that does not mean they will give anything away.”
