Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is disappointed with his side’s penalty shootout loss to fierce city rivals Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday night, Afrosport reports.
Los Rojiblancos levelled the tie 2-2 on aggregate when Conor Gallagher put them in front after 27 seconds. However, they could not add another and lost 4-2 on penalties.
Simeone believes the game going all the way to penalties will be advantageous to La Liga leaders Barcelona whom they face this weekend before the international break.
“Honestly, I won’t lie to you, being eliminated the way we’ve been is not an easy thing to accept,” the Argentine tactician said.
“We’re playing against a great rival next Sunday. I can imagine Barca players watching this game and wishing us to play the extra time and the penalties, hoping for us to get as tired as possible.
“And let’s face reality: we’ll be tired, we’ll be beaten, we’ll be out of a competition that we played the way we should play it. But we’ll play with everything we have left.”
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— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 12, 2025
Atletico Madrid had a penalty from Julian Alvarez ruled out in the shootout for a double touch before taking it. While it left Atleti incensed, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti agrees with the decision of VAR to rule it out.
“I think they had detected it already at the VAR when we were hesitating,” the Italian tactician said. “We haven’t warned them, not me at least because I didn’t realize. I’ve seen the replay and I think he touches it with his left foot, the second touch.”
Real will now face Arsenal in the quarter-finals on April 8 and 16.
