Simeone Not Face Milan Derby For Personal

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso

Although never uniformed Inter Milan , Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was considered a game of counter AC Milan in the Champions League round of 16 as a personal derby .

The draw of the Champions League last 16 with Milan Atletico bring . This is the first meeting between the two teams in the event the highest among the European clubs .

For Simeone , this party has a special impression because he never felt the heat of the Derby Della Madonnina . Argentine coach ever defended Inter two seasons , from 1997 to 1999 . Besides Inter , he also briefly defended Lazio in 1999-2003 .

Then the San Siro atmosphere is nothing new for 43-year coach . However , Simeone refused to make the match as a personal battle . Furthermore , the man born in Buenos Aires was looking forward to tough games against seven teams winning the Champions League title .

" I do not see this fight as the Milan derby . I have great respect for Milan and those who work there . They have outstanding coaches who should set an incredible squad , " said Simeone to Football Espana .

" It will be a big challenge , one of the most important of the season , against a team that has won the Champions League a few times , " he continued .

" San Siro is a marvelous stadium , where I play a lot . Milan is our beautiful and I am sure we will see a great fight , " said Simeone .

Matter of chance , it is still too early to call Simeone talk which team will qualify . Important for him to see the movement of the transfer window in January and development of the next few months to assess .

" We'll see if they buy other good players in January and also how it performs to the wonderful challenge of this kind . For now I see each team has a 50 percent chance of escape . We are still in the month of December, so it is still too early to say who favorite , " he said .