Atletico Madrid Coach Laments Missed Chances Against Real
Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, said that his side failed to capitalise on the control they had for long periods of their 2-1 defeat to rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.
But Simeone said he was happy with how his team reacted to conceding an early goal at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.
However, the coach said that he felt confident they could turn the tie around in the second leg at the Metropolitano stadium next week, as they did against Inter Milan at the same stage in 2024.
“It’s difficult to take risks so that with any counter-attack you end up losing the game.”
“We controlled that situation very well, but we were missing (something) in the final metres.”
The Argentine said he was confident that the atmosphere at their home ground would give Atletico “a stimulus”.
He noted that while his team got into the second leg behind, it could have been much worse had Real taken a late chance on Tuesday. But that task could have been made even harder in the closing stages, with Kylian Mbappe failing to find Vinicius Junior in the final moments after a swift counter-attack.
“Maybe the hope of that no goal opens the door for what’s to come,” Simeone added.
Reuters/Obinna Aniakor.
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