Diego Simeone fires Arsenal warning to Atletico Madrid squad after Copa del Rey heartbreak

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Arsenal's Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid were beaten on penalties by Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final last weekend

Diego Simeone has warned his Atletico Madrid players they must be firing against Elche if they want to stand a chance of beating Arsenal.

The Argentine is looking to rally his troops after they were beaten on penalties in the final of the Copa del Rey on Saturday following a dramatic 2-2 draw.

Atletico also host Athletic Club in La Liga action this weekend before welcoming the Gunners to the Metropolitano, however, Simeone is concerned his team's form and confidence could be damaged if they do not pick themselves up quickly.

Simeone said with a mouthwatering Champions League semi-final just around the corner: "We have to start again to arrive in the best possible shape, we have to start by playing well tomorrow."

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Atletico are already out of the title picture and are now working to solidify Champions League qualification for next season.

He was pleased to hear the club had sold out tickets for next week's first-leg and praised the gesture despite last weekend's disappointment.

Simeone added: "What the fans did was incredible. Many times you look for a message from someone to make you feel like victims, no, we are not victims of anything.

"The only message is to keep going, to keep walking the path we are on and to pursue what we want in only one way: by working."

Atletico Madrid duo Alexander Sorloth and Ademola Lookman are currently out injured but there's optimism they could be back this weekend and ready to face Arsenal.

Last week Declan Rice said Arsenal fear nobody in Europe after swatting aside Sporting CP to set up a showdown with Atleti.

Rice said: "I think over two legs, people know they’re in for a tough game. I think we got that respect last year when we beat Madrid over two games. When we beat them here and then we went to the Bernabeu and put in an amazing performance. We played really well against PSG over the two legs.

"So look, we don’t fear anyone, especially here, away from home. We’re confident in the group, confident in the way we set up. So yes, keep bringing it on. We love this format. We know we have Atletico next, so it’s going to be some journey if we can get to the final. So we’ve just got to keep going and keep believing in what we can achieve."