Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has voiced his pride in his team’s journey to the Champions League semi-finals, despite their eventual elimination by Arsenal. Simeone suggested that his team was slightly short on resources and felt they were denied a crucial penalty.
A key factor in Atletico Madrid’s downfall was their inability to convert scoring opportunities. Simeone expressed regret that his team did not secure a lead in the first leg at home.
“If we were eliminated, it’s because our opponent deserved to advance. They were clinical in the first half and earned their place,” Simeone stated. “But what I feel is tranquility, peace; the team gave everything they had. We could have won the first match in the second half, but we weren’t as decisive as the game demanded. Today, we improved defensively in the first half, but we offered little offensively.”
“We improved in the second half, creating a few chances that could have gone our way, but they didn’t, and we reached a place no one expected. We competed against an incredibly powerful team, and with our own strengths, we fought as hard as we could. I’m grateful to our fans, our players, and I’m proud to be where I am. I said in the stadium during preseason that we were going to compete, and we did. Unfortunately, we didn’t win anything, that’s true, but we reached places that aren’t easy to reach.”
Griezmann Penalty Appeal Deemed ‘Very Clear’
A contentious moment involved a foul on Gabriel Magalhaes by Marc Pubill, which appeared to prevent a clear penalty for Antoine Griezmann. Simeone commented on the incident:
“I’m not going to dwell on something as simple and easy as the play involving Griezmann. It’s very clear, and we understand that it was a foul by Pubill on one of their players. We believe he was correct in that situation. I’m not going to dwell on it because that would be making excuses, and I don’t want to make excuses for anything.”
Beyond missed chances, Simeone highlighted that “little details” did not favor Atletico Madrid.
“In the first leg, we had chances to score and didn’t take them. Here, in the second half, we improved, we got more into the game, we played in their half, and we created opportunities. All those little details that sometimes go our way, this time they didn’t go our way.”
Simeone Hints at Resource Disparities
Simeone alluded to Arsenal’s significant financial advantage compared to Atletico’s more limited resources.
“It’s part of football; we all know that when those minutes arrive, we want time to pass quickly. Arteta’s work is incredible, and they have significant financial resources that reflect the work they do. I’m happy for them; they deserve it, they’ve been working very well.”
“I said no [I don’t have the strength to continue] today. It gives me a reality, which is the reality of Atletico as a club: it has grown enormously in every aspect, a club recognised throughout Europe and the world in a way it wasn’t before. But people want to win; reaching the final isn’t enough for them.”
Speaking to Movistar+, as reported by Diario AS, he reiterated his comments regarding Arsenal’s resources:
“There’s nothing more to say. We’re out. We congratulate Arsenal; they competed well. They have a team and a manager I like. They follow a consistent approach, with significant financial resources that allow them to compete like this. Congratulations. We’ll continue with our work, without dwelling on a detail that’s so obvious.”
Simeone Pays Tribute to Atletico Madrid Fans
At the conclusion of the match, Simeone was seen engaging with the traveling supporters.
“To our fans and our players. We had a very good Champions League run, we gave our all and went much further than was generally expected. It’s a shame. We deserved to at least allow ourselves extra time in the first leg and today, which could have given us a better chance.”
“Total gratitude. We competed incredibly well against Barcelona in the quarter-finals and against Arsenal in the semi-finals. And that’s thanks to their effort. I hope our fans give Antoine the boost he’s earned in these last few matches. Koke was incredible, a masterclass in how to play football at his age. On how to take responsibility on the ball, to show personality. And I’m grateful to the team. When the players give their all, when they compete, we want to win, but it’s not enough.”
This result effectively concludes Atletico Madrid’s Champions League campaign, marking their return to the semi-finals for the first time in nine years. While reaching this stage was a notable achievement, the missed opportunity to advance to a final will likely be a source of disappointment for Atletico fans, especially given their competitive performance against their opponents.
