Matteo Ruggeri, a defender for Atletico Madrid, has expressed his gratitude towards coach Diego Simeone for enhancing his defensive capabilities. He also acknowledged Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona star, as the most formidable opponent he has encountered this season.
Ruggeri played the entire match during Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday. This is the Italian left-back’s debut season with Atletico Madrid, and he has consistently been a starter under Simeone’s management.
Ruggeri: ‘I’ve improved defensively’ under Simeone
Speaking to Sky Sport after the game, Ruggeri stated, “I believe my development is largely thanks to the coach, who has believed in me from the very start. He has given me the trust and time to work effectively, and I feel I have improved, particularly defensively, due to him and our daily training sessions. Naturally, there is always room for improvement, as one can learn from any opponent. I am content, and we need to recover well, first for Saturday’s game and then for Tuesday, as we anticipate an intense atmosphere.”
The 23-year-old Ruggeri has participated in 42 matches across all competitions this season, accumulating over 3,000 minutes on the field under Simeone in 2025-26. The former Atalanta defender has not yet made his senior debut for Italy.
When asked to identify his toughest opponent this season, Ruggeri’s response was quite predictable. “I don’t want to say it’s obvious, but I suppose with Lamine [Yamal], it was a good battle,” he commented. “We’ve faced each other many times. These encounters provide motivation and the drive to perform at a high level. From these matches, one understands the standard and the effort required to reach a Champions League semifinal. If I have to name the toughest one, I’ll go with him because he is truly impressive.”
Ruggeri joined Atletico Madrid last summer from Atalanta for approximately €20 million, signing a contract that runs until 2030.