Diego Simeone has conceded he’s struggling to highlight Chelsea’s weaknesses ahead of their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid but has questioned how they will react to a setback.
Since Tuchel took over from Frank Lampard as manager at the end of January, the blues are unbeaten in 12 matches and currently sit fourth in the Premier League table.
Chelsea also hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg of their Champions League clash against Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
And ahead of the second-leg on Wednesday, Simeone admits he is wary of Chelsea’s current form under Tuchel, particularly at home.
‘I believe today Chelsea don’t have a weakness,’ Simeone said on Tuesday. ‘The only thing is they don’t know what can happen from a negative point of view.
‘They have not had a negative result yet and that will be a question until it happens. ‘We are facing a team that has done quite well since their coach has come, they have never lost. They feel strong at home and are playing quite well.
‘They have had games like us around the Champions League matches that have been close and tough. Tomorrow, we just have one result, to win. We have to take the match where we want so we can win with a goal. The single idea is to win.
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‘You can start winning in minute 84 or minute 10 because they are all possible results. The aim is to take the match to them after the second leg for the situations to be improved.
‘We don’t know how they will think about the match, but I know what we want from the match which is to win it.’
Simeone confirmed that Joao Felix will start the second leg. He said: ‘Joao, as we have always mentioned, is a really important player.
‘Joao is going to play from the beginning. He has had a really high-quality start to the season. He is the talk of our team and we need this player.
‘All footballers have different stages throughout their professional career, especially when they are young, where they dip. ‘But as you heard from him there is nothing more needed from his personality.
‘Ahead of the Champions League and LaLiga matches, we have to ensure that as a 21-year-old that he has that will that he needs to have to reach the point where he needs to be.’
