Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone called for his side to produce a spirited performance against "one of the best teams in the world" Manchester United.
United head into the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Wednesday having lost just one of their 14 Premier League games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as manager in November.
By contrast, Simeone's men – who have home advantage this week – have somewhat struggled in their LaLiga title defence this season.
However, Atletico secured a 3-0 victory over Osasuna on Saturday, and Simeone wants to see another battling showing against United, who he believes have transformed since the Ralf Rangnick's appointment in place of Solskjaer on an interim basis.
"We are facing one of the best teams in the world. In the last 14 games, they have only lost one," Simeone told reporters at Tuesday's pre-match news conference.
"Since the arrival of the new coach, he has given them solidity, teamwork, commitment and shows how Manchester United always was.
"The new coach has made his mark, because you can see it is an intense, dynamic, courageous team with very good individuals.
"The game will be tough, difficult, like all Champions League games, but we have the hope of being in our stadium and with our supporters."
He added: "The other day there was a great spirit in the team, you could see it. Hopefully it will be there again against Manchester United because then we will be able to compete better."
Atletico have lost each of their past four Champions League games against English sides, double the number of losses they suffered across their first 12 such matches in the competition (W4 D6 L2).
The LaLiga outfit have also won just four of their last 14 in the competition, despite progressing from the group stages in consecutive campaigns, while also losing more of their past four home games (three) than they did in their previous 37 (two) in Europe's premier club tournament.
Simeone's task at the Wanda Metropolitano was also made more difficult on Tuesday, after it was confirmed Atletico would be without their captain Koke for the United clash.
The midfielder suffered a muscle injury in the win over Osasuna, but Simeone insisted it would be an opportunity for others to step up.
"We have [Thomas] Lemar returning after COVID-19, which is important for us," he added. "[Yannick] Carrasco is also suspended...
"But there are team-mates who are very eager, waiting to show their ability."
Saudi Pro League: Mahrez and Firmino on target as Al-Ahli tighten grip on third place
Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino were both on target as Al-Ahli tightened their grip on third place in the Saudi Pro League table with a 4-1 win over Damac on Thursday.
Matthias Jaissle's team were four goals up within just 25 minutes as Damac folded, Ziyad Al Johani and Feras Al Brikan netting their first two before Franck Kessie was felled by Dhari Al Anazi for a penalty, converted by Mahrez.
Firmino then tapped home a fourth after being teed up by former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin on the break, but Al-Ahli took their foot off the gas from there, Domagoj Antolic's second-half consolation rounding off the scoring.
Elsewhere, 10-man Al-Riyadh scored two stoppage-time draws to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw with Al-Fateh in Al-Mubarraz.
Goals from Djaniny and former Columbus Crew star Lucas Zelarayan put Slaven Bilic's hosts on the brink of victory, with Al-Riyadh playing almost half the game a player down after Khalid Al Shuwayyi's 54th-minute red card.
An astonishing collapse denied them, however, with Mohammed Al Shwirekh halving the arrears one minute into stoppage time before Didier Ndong headed in a left-wing cross three minutes later.
Thursday's other game saw Al-Hazm and Al-Akhdoud play out a goalless draw, keeping the hosts bottom of the table while Al-Akhdoud inched two points clear of the relegation zone.
'It's a joke' – Ten Hag slams reports of Man Utd fire sale
Erik ten Hag has angrily denied reports claiming almost every player in Manchester United's squad will be up for sale in the upcoming transfer window, describing them as "a joke".
United are officially out of the running for Champions League qualification and could yet end Ten Hag's second season at the helm out of Europe entirely, with Newcastle United and Chelsea among the teams looking to hunt down the sixth-placed Red Devils.
Big changes are expected in United's first transfer window under the stewardship of INEOS founder Jim Ratcliffe, who assumed full control of football operations when his purchase of a minority stake in the club was ratified in February.
Earlier this week, reports emerged suggesting United were entertaining offers for all but three of their players, namely Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
Speaking at a press conference to preview Monday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, Ten Hag shot down those suggestions.
"It's a joke! As long as I worked here, 200 players are apparently getting interest from Manchester United every summer, which is untrue. We did some research," Ten Hag said.
"Every summer, we sell every player in our squad, which is untrue. Be calm and take responsibility when you make up such a headline. It is total c**p."
Despite coming under fierce pressure this campaign, Ten Hag has repeatedly insisted he will remain at Old Trafford for the 2024-25 season.
He knows there is plenty to be done as the Red Devils enter a new era, saying: "There's always a lot of work, that's normal when you go into a transfer window.
"We are still below the levels of the expectations that Manchester United have, so we have to catch up.
"I am now going into my fifth window, two windows were okay, two windows we did nothing. We have to make new improvements in the summer.
"There is a base of this squad that is very good. Injuries had a big impact on our season."
Bruno Fernandes hints at Manchester United departure
Bruno Fernandes hinted he may leave Manchester United in the close season, but insisted he will not consider his future until after the European Championship.
The United skipper has been one of the Red Devils' standout performers during a tricky campaign for Erik ten Hag's side, who are sixth in the Premier League and six points behind fifth-place Tottenham with three games remaining.
Fernandes has chipped in with 26 direct goal involvements (15 goals, 11 assists) - the most by any United player - and became the first player to create over 100 chances in the Premier League this term during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Burnley.
The club are reportedly prepared to sell most of their top players in the close season under the new Jim Ratcliffe regime, though the Portugal international is still under contract at Old Trafford until June 2026.
With the European Championship and an FA Cup final against Manchester City on the horizon, the 29-year-old says that remains his top priority and he will focus on his future further down the line.
"I'm not thinking about other things at the moment. Obviously, it doesn't just depend on me, does it?" he told DAZN Portugal.
"A player always has to want to be here, but at the same time, you have to want him to stay. At the moment, I feel there's that on both sides.
"I'm not thinking too much about the future, not least because this season hasn't been at the level I’d hoped for - either individually or collectively - so far.
"If I have to think about not continuing in the Premier League, it won't be until after the Euros. Nothing will be able to take my focus away from the FA Cup final and the Euros, as there's nothing more important than that at the moment."
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