Diego Simeone insists Chelsea were the most intense side he's ever faced
Atletico lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the group stages of the Champions League after Michy Batshuayi struck a winner deep in stoppage time.
Chelsea weren’t able to follow up that victory against Manchester City, as they were defeated by a fine Kevin De Bruyne goal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
But Simeone was effusive in his praise for the Blues for their away display in Madrid.
“We had never faced a team with the intensity of Chelsea,” Simeone told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
Antonio Conte reacts to Chelsea's Man City defeat
We had never faced a team with the intensity of Chelsea
Diego Simeone
“We struggled to press them effectively. We improved when (Antoine) Griezmann went on (Tiemoue) Bakayoko and left David Luiz free. But we were imprecise.”
Atletico have reached the Champions League final twice in the last four years.
And Simeone thinks the English clubs will be a force to be reckoned with again.
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Antonio Conte will be looking to get his side back to winning ways against Crystal Palace
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He added: “The English teams have improved so it’s much more open.
“There is less margin for error now.”
Chelsea will hope to get back to winning ways away to Crystal Palace after the international break on Saturday October 14 (3pm).
