Simeone takes swipe at Barcelona after Champions League exit: ‘They don’t know how it feels to be in semi-final’ | OneFootball

Diego Simeone could barely hide his satisfaction after Atletico Madrid edged past Barcelona in a dramatic UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie, securing their place in the semi-final despite a 2-1 defeat on the night.

Barcelona’s victory in the second leg was not enough to overturn the 2-0 deficit from the first leg, allowing Atletico to progress 3-2 on aggregate. 

Yet, the match itself told a deeper story, one of intensity, tactical adjustments, and moments where Simeone’s side had to dig deep to survive.

Simeone’s reflection

Reflecting on the challenge posed by Barcelona, Simeone admitted he was taken aback by the sheer tempo and energy of their play, especially in the early stages of the game.

“Did you see how they play? The pace they set. I kept thinking, ‘This can’t be real; they’re playing at an incredible pace.’ 

“We made mistakes that allowed them to capitalise; they linked up brilliantly in the middle, and we found it hard to contain them.”

Barcelona’s aggressive start left Atletico struggling, and when they found themselves under pressure, the Argentine coach acknowledged that his team faced a defining moment in the tie. 

“When we were 2-0 down, we had the choice of collapsing and giving up, or carrying on with the game plan we’d set out.”

As the match progressed, the physical toll began to show on Barcelona, something Simeone was quick to recognise and exploit. 

Atletico gradually grew into the contest, finding better balance and control. Detailing how the momentum shifted, he added,

Barcelona have been eliminated from the Champions League. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“In the second half, their intensity dropped – their legs were tired from playing on Saturday – and we managed to match that intensity.”

From there, the game became more evenly poised, with both teams pushing for decisive moments. 

Simeone pointed to Barcelona’s tactical switch as they chased the tie, highlighting how the Catalan side introduced alternative attacking options late on.

“The game was now more evenly balanced; they resorted to Plan B with Araújo and Lewandowski to finish things off.”

Despite the pressure, Atletico held firm and even came close to adding another goal that could have put the tie beyond doubt.

Reflecting on the closing stages, Simeone added, “We could have scored a second and we’re leaving with an extraordinary match.”

On Barcelona’s complaints

However, the most striking moment came when Simeone was asked about Barcelona’s complaints regarding refereeing decisions, pitch conditions, and other factors. 

Taking a swipe at the story surrounding the game, he remarked,

“You know how great it is to be in the Champions League semi-finals. They have no idea how good it feels, phew, to be among the top four in Europe.”

Source: AS