Diego Simeone praised Atletico Madrid’s discipline and defended controversial refereeing decisions following a 2-0 Champions League win that ended the club’s 20-year drought at Barcelona’s home ground.
Diego Simeone lauded his team’s orderly defense after securing a vital first-leg advantage. Addressing the VAR upgrade that saw Pau Cubarsí dismissed, Simeone noted, “I’m far from Cubarsí’s action, but the VAR calls the referee.”
He further dismissed Barcelona’s late penalty appeals regarding a Marc Pubill handball, asserting that if officials deemed the play hadn’t started, “it is common sense of the game.”
Despite the lead, the Atletico boss remains cautious ahead of the return leg in Madrid. He acknowledged Barcelona’s strength and recent resilience, particularly following their previous heavy Copa del Rey loss.
Simeone emphasized that the tie remains competitive, stating, “We imagine a difficult and complex match,” while relying on the support of the home crowd to secure a spot in the semi-finals.