Diego Simeone Praises Cristian Romero Amid Atletico Madrid Links

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has highlighted his team's determination to secure a victory against Tottenham Hotspur in their upcoming Champions League encounter on Wednesday night. Their objective is to advance to the quarter-finals at the Tottenham Stadium. Simeone also offered commendatory remarks for Spurs defender Cristian Romero, a player previously associated with a transfer to Atletico.

Despite holding a substantial three-goal lead from the first leg – a decisive 5-2 triumph in Madrid last week – Simeone stressed to Marca that his squad must concentrate on winning the current game rather than relying on their aggregate advantage. He cited Atletico's past vulnerability during the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barcelona, where a 4-0 home victory was followed by a less comfortable return fixture.

"We must approach this match as it is. There's a three-goal difference, but we need to win, and the most effective way to achieve that is by scoring first to make them even more uncomfortable," Simeone stated.

Marcos Llorente's Impressive Form Against English Opponents

Marcos Llorente, one of the goalscorers from the initial leg, boasts an exceptional track record against English teams. Remarkably, five of his nine Champions League goals for Atletico Madrid have come against Premier League clubs.

Simeone commented on Llorente's overall value: "He is crucial in every game, not exclusively against English teams. His progression has been consistent, evolving from being an unused player upon his arrival to becoming a key competitor. He demonstrated his readiness for this significant step from our league title-winning year right up to now, and he remains a vital component of our squad."

Atletico Universe shared a quote from Diego Simeone: "Atlético Madrid’s competitiveness? Our reality is in our minds. And we are the creators of that reality." (March 17, 2026)

Simeone Expresses Admiration for Cristian Romero

Last summer, prior to the signing of David Hancko, Atletico Madrid was strongly rumored to be pursuing Cristian Romero, who had previously indicated a desire to play in La Liga. Julian Alvarez also mentioned having discussions about Romero potentially joining the club, fueling speculation that the defender might depart Spurs this summer.

Simeone stated: "As an Argentinian supporter, I admire his character, his style of play, and his defensive contributions. And certainly, as a fan who has watched more of his performances with the national team than with Tottenham, I am clearly a great admirer of his."

Johnny Cardoso: Learning from Past Challenges

Another midfielder currently performing well is USMNT's Johnny Cardoso. He has established himself as a regular starter in 2026, hitting his best form of the season.

Cardoso told reporters, "Initially it was challenging, but now I feel good and I'm contributing, though I know I can still improve."

Regarding their 3-0 Copa del Rey second-leg defeat to Barcelona, Cardoso felt that this experience, rather than causing concern about their ability to maintain an advantage, would actually help them manage the upcoming game more effectively.

"It can guide us in identifying mistakes to avoid and areas for improvement. We don't play relying on an advantage; we approach every game with great intensity, and they [Tottenham] are an opponent that has conceded very few goals here," Cardoso explained.

Atletico Madrid are widely considered strong favorites to advance past Spurs, where they will then face either Barcelona or Newcastle United in the quarter-finals.