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Simeone Defends Mourinho’s Defensive Tactic

Diego Simeone has warned Chelsea he could give them a taste of their own medicine – because the only thing that matters is winning.

Simeone defended his rival boss Jose Mourinho’s right to park the bus to make sure Chelsea get results.

The Blues boss has been under-fire for his side’s ultra-defensive approach in a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg and then the 2-0 win at Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

But Simeone insists there is no right way to win.

“I’m a football man. I respect different ways of setting out your team. Simeone said

“It’s about what’s the best way for a specific game or a specific opposition.

“To defend well is not easy, so I congratulate teams who do that well. To attack well isn’t easy, either.

“So you have to congratulate managers who get their sides doing that. Football evolves. There is no ‘best way’.

“It depends on the manager spending time with his players, talking different set-ups and tactics, different approaches and styles.

“But, in the end, it’s important the team, the club, the institution wins, regardless of how it is achieved.

“There is no ‘one way’ to play football. If we all played the same way, it would be very boring.

“You can play 10 at the back or 10 up front. What matters is the result. My players are excited and keen.

“We know we’ll have to work hard in a very difficult game, and we’ll have to put in an enormous effort to get a positive result.”

On-loan Atletico keeper Thibaut Courtois will be in the spotlight on a huge night for the Belgian keeper.

Courtois, 21, will make his first ever appearance at Stamford Bridge – ironically against his parent club almost three years after joining Chelsea.

Simeone backed his No.1 to handle the heat, saying: “He’ll be able to handle the pressure without a problem.

“Also, I think he’s working hard to compete to be one of the best goalkeepers in Europe at the moment, but so far he’s still very young, he’s growing and still needs the time to grow.”

Portuguese midfielder Tiago, who had a year at Chelsea during Mourinho’s first Stamford Bridge spell, is expected to replace suspended captain Gabi in the Atletico side.