Simeone: «A huge challenge awaits in London, we're full of belief» | OneFootball

ARTETA, ANGRY ABOUT THE OVERTURNED PENALTY

“I never comment on my colleagues’ opinions. Nothing to say.”

MATCH ANALYSIS

“The atmosphere was unlike almost anything I can remember. It was incredible, wonderful, a gift from the fans to the team and, in turn, a gift from the team to our people to be in the semifinals, with all the difficulties that entails. The first half was calmer, they had better transitions and few shots on goal. In the second half we adjusted the match a bit more, and you could see the fatigue they’ve been building up, with so much responsibility in the Premier League, where they have to win the title, the Champions League… It all adds up. In the second half we started to play better in the final third, we had more chances, we could have taken the lead, but their goalkeeper made some good saves, a defender cleared one off Griezmann, there was a crossbar, and that goal didn’t come. What remains? An extraordinary challenge: London, Arsenal’s ground, a team that hasn’t lost in the Champions League, with hope and everything we have.”

OPINION ON THE FIRST PENALTY AWARDED

“The first penalty, in my opinion, there is contact from behind, the player waits for the contact and goes down. In a Champions League semifinal, you need a penalty that is really a penalty. The referee felt it was. In the other incident he felt, thanks to VAR, that it was a penalty, because first it wasn’t handball, and then, in the second one, also thanks to VAR, that it wasn’t a penalty. VAR sometimes gives to you and sometimes takes away.”

PHYSICAL ISSUES FOR GIULIANO, JULIÁN ALVAREZ AND SØRLOTH

“Honestly, knowing them, they’ll definitely be there on Tuesday. I can’t imagine any of them missing out. They’ve got some knocks: Giuliano from a blow, Julián from the fall he had in midfield, and Sorloth with some tightness in his hamstring, but I have no doubt they’ll be available.”

KOKE AND GRIEZMANN’S MATCH

“What you saw: authority, talent and quality. It seems Griezmann goes through the match and, instead of getting tired, he starts finding spaces to do something different. I thought about taking him off, but I said no, let’s leave him on because something always happens. And I loved Lookman’s game, his defensive work and, not to mention, everything he creates going forward. We’re getting a player as important as him to understand that his work helps us.”

HIGH DEFENSIVE LEVEL

“Yes, we were solid. Le Normand’s introduction gave us more defensive strength, with Marc at full-back and Llorente ahead of him, with Hancko, who played through ankle pain the whole match, and Ruggeri on the left. The team showed more consistency, more control over what was happening when we had to defend. We’re going to come up against similar or even better situations to defend, and we’ll have to raise our defensive level: attacking well alone is not enough.”

HAS ATLÉTICO LAID DOWN A MARKER?

“What makes me happy is the welcome, the energy, the excitement from the fans after losing a final. There are no words left to thank them for their love and affection. But this team never gives up, it is always fighting, it gets back up in the face of adversity. Today we were losing 0-1 and they found strength and energy. We’ve got Koke and Griezmann, at their age, running and battling. Of those players, the ones coming on were better than the ones going off. We have a fantastic challenge ahead of us. It excites me. It will be tough, but what could be better than a challenge like that in London?”

THE SCHEDULE PLAYS IN ATLÉTICO’S FAVOR

“Did you see the five who came on? Every time one came on I said, ‘Really?’ Yes, really. They have more than enough squad to compete. They haven’t lost in the Champions League, and they’ve been up at the top of the Premier League from the start. We’re fighting against a top-class team.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.