Diego Simeone has warned ‘there are no favourites’ in Atletico Madrid's Champions League tie against Juventus despite his side holding a 2-0 first leg lead.
Goals from Jose Maria Gimenez and Diego Godin gave Atleti a two-goal advantage from last month’s clash in Madrid but the Argentine boss insisted his opponents ‘are more than just Cristiano Ronaldo’.
“These are two strong teams, one will go through and the other won’t but it’s hard to talk about there being favourites,” Simeone told his pre-match press conference.
“I think whenever it’s a knockout round like this between two such important clubs, both treat it like two halves of one match.
“The first leg is one moment; the second leg is another. Everyone tries to prepare and organise, but football is about details that cannot be explained or predicted and that’s what makes this sport fantastic. We can talk about it as much as we like, but it won’t make much difference.
“I am trying to decide who to pick so the team will work in the best way. I’ll make do with what I have at my disposal.
“Like all strikers, Alvaro Morata is important, as he gives the side options, holds up the play and must make the most of the spaces that will be left by an opposition that needs to attack.
“(Diego) Godin is fine, he’ll train today and I expect him to play tomorrow. We’ll be ready for battle against strong players and Juve are not just Cristiano Ronaldo.
“They also have Federico Bernardeschi, Paulo Dybala, Douglas Costa, so whoever plays with Mario Mandzukic and Ronaldo will certainly force us to focus.”
