Champions League quarterfinal: Atletico Madrid 2-0 FC Barcelona
Atletico brought two stellar performance to eliminate Barcelona. First they did not let Messi score in the 180 minutes of competition between the two clubs. Second they got a goal and could have done more at Camp Nou if Torres would not have been sent off. But the goal they get gave them all chances to pass on. And third, Griezmann made the elimination happen for Atletico scoring both goals with a header and then a penalty in the late minutes of the game. What a great game and performance this was!
Atletico coach – Diego Simeone:
“I feel very happy for the players. I would not say it’s only a pass to the semi-finals, I think it’s much more important. There is a group of people from the kit men, employees, players, and fans that are all in a line.”
Our coach also analysed the match: “I think that we took the first time half to where it suited us. Not so in the second half, Barcelona took it to their territory. We became strong with our people, the system and the physical work. We strongly believe in the values of life. We found a great group of guys who respond to what they have in life”.
FC Barcelona coach – Luis Enrique reacts after the game:
“Our target was to retain the title and our hopes were high. We won’t be winning it this year and the team are feeling sad. We always set the highest of targets. Right now we simply have to accept the defeat, understand this as the kind of thing that happens in sport and turn to the other targets that we have on the horizon. We have to improve our performances.”
It was the kind of game we expected. We got through the first half without problems and their first goal came out of unfortunate move. We weren’t at our most lucid”.
This is not our best moment, nor our most effective. We have to lift ourselves because we’ve got two very tasty challenges ahead of us. I can only congratulate Atlético Madrid and wish them luck. We evidently aren’t in our best form. But I’m very proud of my players and I apologise to all of the fans for this elimination.”
