Captain Koke sends apology message to Atlético fans after Copa del Rey exit | OneFootball

Atlético Madrid star Koke has tonight issued a public apology to the club’s loyal fanbase.

As much, of course, comes fresh off an evening to forget for all associated with the capital giants.

Atlético marked their return to action a short time ago, making the trip to San Mamés for the 2nd leg of the club’s Copa del Rey semi-final tie with Athletic Club.

Diego Simeone’s troops headed into proceedings facing an uphill battle, after a 1-0 defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano in the tie’s first leg earlier this month.

To say that the Rojiblancos failed to step up to the task in their efforts to turn things around, though, would be something of an understatement.

Owing to another hugely underwhelming display on Thursday, Atléti, when all was said and done, found themselves condemned to the wrong side of an eventual 3-0 result.

It is Athletic Club, as a result, who have booked their spot in the Copa finale, where Ernesto Valverde’s troops will lock horns with RCD Mallorca.

With the club’s hopes of silverware for the season now hanging by a thread, it is safe to say that the mood amongst all of an Atlético Madrid persuasion is a sombre one late on Thursday night.

In turn, it did not come as a major surprise when Rojblancos captain Koke was in apologetic mood post-match.

Speaking to Teledeporte, as cited by Mundo Deportivo, at San Mamés, midfielder Koke was drawn on what exactly went wrong for his side on their way to a 4-0 drubbing over two legs:

“It’s a hard day,” he responded. “We weren’t at the level we had to be. At home we had the opportunity to win, we didn’t. We came here, we tried, and it couldn’t be.”

From here, the 32-year-old then spoke directly to the Atléti fanbase, issuing a heartfelt apology for the club’s latest display:

“I apologize to our fans who came, to those who were at home and who wanted us to be in a final. Us, too. We tried with all means, but we were not up to the task.”

Conor Laird | GSFN