In Diego Simeone's mind, strategy trumps resources.
Ahead of the first leg of Atletico Madrid's tie against Bayern Munich in the Champions League's semi-finals, Simeone fired a poetic warning shot at the German club, describing the tactical battle that should unfold over the course of 180 minutes.
"Bayern have many options, but in battles, the side with the most soldiers does not win, but those who use their soldiers better," Simeone said Tuesday, according to the Guardian.
Simeone, whose defensive approach allowed Atleti to eliminate Barcelona in the Champions League's quarter-finals despite having only 23 percent of possession in the second leg, will be without one or two soldiers at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday: Diego Godin is wounded with a hamstring injury, while Yannick Ferreira Carrasco is battling an ankle ailment.