DIEGO SIMEONE has defended Jose Mourinho after the Chelsea manager came in for criticism over defensive tactics.
Chelsea did not concede in either games and blew the title race wide open with a 2-0 win at Anfield on Sunday.
But despite criticism of his tactics from some quarters, Simeone insists Mourinho should not come under-fire with his team proving successful.
"I'm a football man and I respect the different ways of setting up your team," Simeone said.
"It depends on what you believe and who you play against. It is not easy to defend well and it is not easy to attack well. So you must congratulate a team that goes out to attack.
"But no one has the best way of playing and it depends on the manager. What is important is that the team wins, regardless of how you do it.
"There is not one way of playing football. You can have ten at the back or ten up front, what matters is the result."
"No I didn't see any mind-games," Simeone said of his time spent working against Mourinho as Real Madrid manager.
"Courtois will handle the pressure and the atmosphere," he added. "He's working hard to compete but he's still young and growing."
Simeone insisted he was unfazed about who Chelsea field, with Petr Cech, John Terry, Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto'o all returning to training today.
"I imagine I'm always gonna be facing the best," Simeone said. "It's clear we will face a team who went to the Premier League leaders Liverpool and won 2-0 making a lot of changes. Even with the changes they beat the leaders. They have a very competitive squad and that generates a lot of respect. We will face the best Chelsea team possible.
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