Rio Ferdinand praises Atletico Madrid’s relentless attitude under Diego Simeone.

Antoine Griezmann, the second striker of Atletico de Madrid and France, celebrated their victory as Atletico Madrid reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. The team overcame a 1-0 deficit from the first leg against Inter, winning 2-1 in the Spanish capital to level the tie on aggregate before triumphing in a penalty shoot-out. The scenes at the Metropolitano Stadium were euphoric, with Simeone at the heart of the celebrations after yet another famous European win under his guidance.

Simeone’s ability to inspire his players left former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand in awe. Ferdinand spoke of his admiration for Simeone, highlighting his ability to create a culture of never giving up. “The passion, everyone can see it. Everyone shows passion in different ways, but you will not miss that he’s a passionate man,” Ferdinand said. He also praised Simeone’s ability to galvanize his players, stating that they would follow him through thick and thin, even through brick walls. Ferdinand concluded by acknowledging that Simeone consistently punches above his weight.

Joe Cole, another former footballer, was also impressed by Simeone’s ability to rally his players and fans. However, he did not believe that Atletico Madrid posed a serious threat in the competition. Cole praised Simeone’s character and his connection with both the players and the fans, emphasizing the unity within the club that filters through one man. Despite recognizing the difficulty of playing against Atleti, Cole did not think they had enough to progress through the quarter-finals.

The quarter-final draw, which will feature two English clubs, Arsenal and Manchester City, along with Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid, will take place on Friday at 11am UK time.