Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was quite optimistic in the defeat after Barcelona had beaten them from the Copa del Rey in the second stage of the semi-final. For many that was their last real shot at a title this season, now nine points back in La Liga.
There was no shortage of disappointment at the last whistle, illustrated by defender Jose Maria Gimenez, who thought they did not approach the game correctly in the first half.
“I apologize to the fans of Atletico Madrid for throwing the first half away. If we had entered the field with the mentality of the second half …” he said Cadena Cope.
Words that did not go very well with Simeone, who had passed on the statement, said: “Ask Jose.” 'Be more effective' was his only reaction to what they were missing, and he claimed that Atletico had a good season.
Simeone was then much more extensive in his press conference.
“We did not have a good first half, but not one to apologize. In football you go through situations in which the opponent is superior. That happened in the first half. In the second half we corrected many things, very well competed, and it could have applied the score. Simee could improve the score.
His half-time team talked on the fact that Atletico was still in the game, despite the first half that Gimenez thought so little.
“We didn't have a good first half, and they had given the opportunities and allowed us to survive. That gave us optimism and the chance to tackle the second half with more courage. They went out, we were closer, the opponent played very well. I have been saying for a while that I played the way in which I played the way in the four games.”
Simeone was asked when and what would be needed for Atletico to reach the level of Barcelona and Real Madrid, who will decide the two major trophies of Spain this season.
“The club is pure growth. We have brought in a number of very good players who perform at a very high level. We had a fantastic Champions League, a fantastic Copa del Rey, we compete well in La Liga, and I am not on that.
Los Colchoneros is now closer to Athletic Club in fourth place than for Real Madrid in second place, with only four points that separate them from Los Leones. They are confronted with a difficult trip to Seville, but there will undoubtedly be a lot of soul research in Atletico Madrid in Atletico Madrid in the coming weeks. Atletico was on the hunt for three trophies less than a month ago and now resemble the Empy-hand season. Simeone was determined for the second stage that it had also been a good season, making failure a 'wide word'.
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