Diego Simeone praises Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Champions League tie

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Diego Simeone will have every right to feel apprehensive about facing a Manchester United side that possesses his arch nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo.

The great Portuguese has got the better of Simeone’s side in all six of the Champions League campaigns they have pitted their wits against one and other.

Alongside winning two finals against the reigning La Liga champions, Ronaldo has two Champions League hat-tricks to his name against El Cholo’s team.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored more goals against Los Rojiblancos than any other side he has faced throughout his career.

The 37-year-old has 25 goals and nine assists to his name from 35 matches.

Ahead of the next instalment of the rivalry between Ronaldo and Atletico which comes at the Wanda Metropolitano tonight, Simeone has praised United’s number seven.

Speaking via AS, Simeone said: “He [Cristiano] is a monster, an extraordinary footballer and he has been decisive wherever he has been.

“Obviously he has done us a lot of damage whenever he has played with us.

“He has a team that accompanies him that is very good, United is a historical of world football.”

Ronaldo scored in all five of the group games he played this season, dragging the Red Devils through to the last-16 with his clutch moments.

The Champions League’s all-time top goalscorer and appearance maker will be hoping to shine in the biggest club competition in the world once again.

Atletico Madrid stars Hector Herrera and Rodrigo de Paul have also given Ronaldo high praise in the build-up to the Champions League last-16 first leg.

Herrera told Mundo Deportivo: “There are no words to define him or the other players. He is a player who has won everything, a competitor and that is to be admired.

“They are dangerous players who wake up at any moment. He’s one of those players who can’t be said to be nothing wrong, especially in the Champions League, which has always shown that it’s one of his favourite competitions.

“You have to be attentive to what he is as a player and we have to do our job both defensively and offensively.”

The Argentine international de Paul said: “I faced him a lot of times, here in Spain with Valencia. Then many years in Italy. What am I going to say about him? The numbers speak.”