Diego Simeone erupts in statements following Atlético de Madrid’s epic comeback against Barcelona, highlighting that “we attacked better than we defended” and that goals make all the difference in a battle that seemed lost. The Argentine coach did not hide his pride in his team’s response, which recovered from a 0-2 deficit at halftime to win 3-2 and secure a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
As he entered the press conference, Simeone walked in with a broad smile, ready to dissect the match that kept Wanda Metropolitano in ecstasy. The coach spared no praise for Barcelona’s “boys,” emphasizing the speed and quality of the trio Ferran Torres, Pedri, and Gavi, as well as Dani Olmo. “It was incredible at the start, they accelerated a lot, and we made mistakes that they took advantage of to raise the tempo with associative players on the field,” he explained.
But it was Atlético’s response that stole the spotlight. “When we were losing 2-0, the team had two options: to give up or to keep fighting. And they fought with the personality of Koke, Griezmann, the recoveries of Marcos Llorente, and the speed of Lookman, who scored a fantastic goal!” Simeone highlighted, emphasizing the impact of the English forward who joined in January and scored the decisive goal. “The 1-2 was fantastic and, in the second half, despite the fatigue of the Barcelona players from having played on Saturday, the substitutions gave us the energy to hold onto the result.”
When asked about what changed in Atlético to justify this victory, Simeone was clear: “Now we have goals. Lookman continues to evolve and improve defensively. He is a player of another caliber, something I have never had at the club, and we are playing with four forwards.” The coach reinforced that the team’s style has changed over the years, “now we attack better than we defend and we need to score to win, whether it’s with Griezmann, Baena, or Almada.”
Despite the complaints from Barcelona coach Hansi Flick regarding the state of the pitch at the Metropolitano and a formal complaint about an unawarded penalty against Marc Pubill in the first leg, Simeone refused to engage in controversies. “Do you know what it is like to be in the semi-finals of the Champions League? It’s incredible; being among the four best in Europe is something fantastic,” he commented, showing all his ambition for the upcoming challenges.
The emotions at the end were intense and somewhat confusing for the coach. “I ran and hugged Barrios, but there are many things behind this result: a lot of work, many people at the club. What happened in the stadium was incredible. It’s not easy to eliminate Barcelona three times, whether it’s the Barcelona of Messi or that of Yamal. We did it with a lot of heart and sweat, always playing the second leg at home. I hope the players rest for Saturday’s game,” he concluded.
Also noteworthy are two central figures in this Atlético team that is surprising everyone: Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann. Llorente, who has been a versatile force in midfield, impresses Simeone with his development and leadership both on and off the pitch. “He plays in various positions and still encourages his teammates to have an organized life,” he revealed.
As for Griezmann, who announced his departure to Orlando City in the summer, Simeone did not hold back in praising his quality and influence. “We have a football genius, a player who changes games, a man with great character. I hope he finds what he is looking for in the time he has left with us.”
Atlético has no time for prolonged celebrations: they are already preparing for the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, scheduled for Saturday at 21:00 CEST at Estadio La Cartuja, where they promise to continue their pursuit of glory. For now, the European dream remains alive thanks to a collective that knows how to suffer, fight, and, above all, attack better than anyone.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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