Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke says their Champions League clash with Chelsea will be decided ‘by small details’ as their win over Liverpool was.
Chelsea were drawn with Diego Simeone’s side in the in Champions League last sixteen yesterday, with the two sides set to meet at the Wanda Metropolitano for the first leg on February 23rd.
It’s not the first time the two have met in the competition, with them first meeting in 2009 before a clash in the UEFA Super Cup in 2009 and two subsequent clashes in 2014 and 2017.
As is usually the case Atlético will head into the tie as underdogs, a status they’ve enjoyed and indeed used to their advantage in the past.
That was certainly the case last season when they drew reigning champions Liverpool, who they went on to knock out with a stunning performance at Anfield.
If they are to progress this time around, they will need a similarly big performance, something Koke alluded to when commenting on the draw.
“In this type of qualifying round (the key) are the details, when you have the chances to try to put them in and defend well,” La Vanguardia report him saying.
“Last season it happened to us in Liverpool, in small details we were able to get through the tie and hopefully it’s the same against Chelsea.
“They are a rival that we know from the last few years; we have faced each other many times.
“There is still a lot left for those games, but we are very excited, I think we are having a great season, and if we continue with this dynamic, we can play a good role.
“They are a great team, they have strengthened very well; they are playing very offensive. We have to see how we prepare the game to do our best and get through the tie.”
