Diego Simeone complained the attacking version of Atletico Madrid after a scoreless draw at relegation-threatened Deportivo Alaves in Laliga.
The draw left Atletico in third place with 67 points, nine behind leaders Barcelona, who later travel to Real Valladolid later on Saturday.
Visitors Atletico could not take any recording in the first 45 minutes, the third time they did this season, and had to wait until the 71st minute for their first attempt on Doel.
Alaves -goalkeeper Antonio Sivera was kept busy in the final phase when Atletico pushed forward, but the visitors could not find a winner.
“What we all saw was a flat first half of both sides, without team game or shots on goal. We played in the middle of the field, without danger,” Simeone told reporters.
“In the second half we went from less to more, with more courage in the crosses, more crosses, with more combinations at speed … We were left with a draw because we could not finish the chances we had and they couldn't.
“In football you not only win when you play the last teams in the table, you have to play well, be convincing, if you feel like it and when you don't.”
Draw in Vitoria. pic.twitter.com/dqqkqie5xe
– Atlético de Madrid (@atleti Glish) 3 May 2025
Atletico has only built up 0.60 expected goals to 0.61 from Alaves, in which both teams only control two shots on target in a heavily fought collision.
It went on with a relevant run on the road for Atletico, who only won two of their last eight Laliga Away matches (D3 L3).
The most striking moment of the first half came when Atletico attacker Julian Alvarez was fired due to error on Facundo Garces, but the referee lowered the red card after a VAR assessment.
Simeone was furious with the first decision and protested violently on the touchline.
“The referee was hasty with what he saw, but when he was calm enough to see it, he made the right decision,” he said.
That change in decision means that Alvarez will be available when Simeone's Zijhost Real Sociedad next Saturday.