Simeone: Barcelona are the best without a doubt, and Raphinha is an exceptional player

Diego Simeone, the head coach of Atlético, has confirmed the difficulty of the upcoming clash against FC Barcelona, noting that the Catalan team possesses great talent in both midfield and attack. He also praised the level that Brazilian Raphinha is showing ahead of the match between the two teams tomorrow, Sunday, at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Simeone said: "We always face a very good team, perhaps the best, and I have no doubt about that, as they have immense talent from midfield to attack."

He added: "It will be a difficult and tough match, as always against FC Barcelona, and we have to lead it to the areas where we think we can hurt them. We know we will suffer during a large part of the match, and we will try to approach the game the way we envision it."

Atlético Madrid's coach spoke about the threat posed by Raphinha, saying: "For me, he is an exceptional player, characterized by his work rate, speed, and ability to score and create goals. He has had an amazing season in my opinion, and he started the current season in a fantastic way, despite playing in a different position that he also excels in, providing his team with many solutions."

Regarding the change in FC Barcelona's style this season, he explained: "Raphinha's presence in this position changes some things compared to what the situation was like last season, due to his movements and ability to create numerical superiority in midfield, along with his depth at the end of the attack."

Regarding how to handle Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in light of defensive absences, he said: "We are not looking to specifically motivate the defence, but we aim to continue working as a team according to the approach we follow, and try to play the match the way we want."

Diego Simeone discussed Julián Alvarez's condition, stating: "I see him in very good shape". He also defended his decisions regarding the minutes played by David and Kang-in, saying: "I believe they are participating to the extent that allows them to provide good things for the team, and of course, I try to extract the best from each player."

He concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of fan support, saying: "I don't know how the match will go, but we hope our fans will be close to us and support us as they always have, because every time their voice is heard in the stadium, the team's response is present."