Atlético Madrid’s director of professional football Mateu Alemany has insisted Tottenham remain a “top-level team” despite their Premier League struggles.
Mundo Deportivo cover comments from Alemany today after the Champions League draw paired the two sides against each other.
Tottenham travel to the Wanda Metropolitano on March 10th for the first leg of their last 16 double header. They then host Atlético a week later in the second leg.
It remains unclear how focused they will be on the game at that point. For now, their attention is firmly on Premier League survival.
Tottenham impress in Europe
They currently sit 16th in the table, just four points outside of the relegation zone. They are winless in the Premier League in 2026 and have picked up just two points from their last 15. Their last win in the league came on December 15th.
Interestingly, though, they have impressed in Europe. They finished the league phase in excellent form, securing 4th place in the overall table to qualify directly for the last 16. That saw them finished as the fourth-highest seed behind only Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Their only defeat in the competition this season came to holders Paris Saint-Germain in November. And it is that form Alemany is focused on, rather than what’s happening in the Premier League.
“Either opponent would have been extremely difficult,” he said.
“You have to look at their European record, which has been brilliant. A top-level team, a Premier League favorite, whatever the draw, it was going to be tough. The important thing is to focus on our performance.”
Atlético calendar
His own side face a difficult calendar in which they will play their Champions League clashes with Tottenham after taking on Barcelona in the Copa del Rey a week before.
There’s also La Liga commitments, making life more difficult as they face the ‘short’ tie of Tuesday-Tuesday. Alemany isn’t concerned, though.
“We know we’re in the highest level of competition, facing the highest level of rivals and difficulty,” he added.
“It depends on the opponent, their ability to rotate their squad in their domestic league. Whatever happens, we can’t change it; we’ll accept it and adapt.”
