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Respect: Pep Guardiola hails rival manager Diego Simeone as Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid face off

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Bayern boss Pep Guardiola arrives for a news conference at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid. photo: AP

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola praised his Atletico Madrid counterpart Diego Simeone before Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final, first-leg match for being able to compete with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Simeone led Atletico to a first La Liga title for 18 years in 2014, after winning the Europa League and King’s Cup in preceding seasons, and they are now in second place, level on points with Barca and a point above Real with three games left.

They also knocked Guardiola’s former club Barcelona, the Champions League favourites and holders, out of this season’s competition in the quarter-finals.

The best title Atletico have achieved is that they are compared with Barcelona and Madrid, that’s Simeone’s greatest achievement
Pep Guardiola

“The best title Atletico have achieved is that they are compared with Barcelona and Madrid, that’s Simeone’s greatest achievement,” Guardiola said on Tuesday.

“What they show is their consistency, that’s the most difficult thing, to win, win win. Normally only big teams do that, play three different competitions, game after game and win, win, win.

“The most difficult thing in sport is to win year on year. Anyone can win one year but to keep themselves at the top, that’s impressive.”

Guardiola’s Bayern also lost in the 2014 semis to eventual winners Real Madrid and the clash with Atletico is his last chance of reaching the Champions League final with the club before he takes charge at Manchester City for next season.

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