Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has described Arsenal as the strongest team his side has encountered this season, speaking candidly after the Spanish club’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday, 6 May 2026.
Arsenal advanced to the final — their first in 20 years — on the back of a Bukayo Saka strike in the opening stages of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium. The goal proved sufficient to see Mikel Arteta’s side through, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Atletico pushed for an equaliser throughout but were unable to find a way past the Arsenal defence.
In his post-match press conference, Simeone did not shy away from acknowledging the merit of Arsenal’s progression. “If we got knocked out, it’s because our opponents deserved to get through. They took their big chance in the first half, and that made the difference,” the Argentine said.
Reflecting on his side’s performance across both fixtures, Simeone conceded that Atletico had failed to convert key moments, particularly in the opening 45 minutes of the second leg. “We improved after the break, and there were moments that could have gone our way, but they didn’t,” he noted.
Despite the defeat, the Atletico coach struck a composed tone. “I feel calm and peaceful. We competed, but we weren’t clinical enough in key moments,” he added.
Simeone was equally measured in assessing his squad’s wider campaign, expressing pride in their run to the last four. “We gave everything. I’m proud of the players and the supporters. We wanted to compete at the highest level, and we did, even if we didn’t win anything,” he said.
His most notable remarks, however, were directed at Arsenal as a collective unit. “Arsenal were the better team over the two legs. They are the best team we have faced this season, their rhythm and conviction are very hard to contain,” Simeone admitted.
The praise from one of European football’s most decorated managers underlines the scale of Arsenal’s achievement. The Gunners have not reached a Champions League final since the 2005-06 season, when they were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in Paris.
Arsenal’s form across both domestic and continental competition has been a defining feature of the 2025-26 campaign. Beyond their European run, Arteta’s side currently lead the Premier League title race ahead of Manchester City, placing them in contention for a historic double heading into the final weeks of the season.
The identity of Arsenal’s Champions League final opponent is yet to be confirmed, with the second semi-final still to be resolved. Should the Gunners maintain their Premier League advantage and go on to win the final, it would represent the most significant achievement in the club’s modern era.
