Diego Simeone, the Atletico Madrid coach, commented on achieving his first victory as a manager at Camp Nou, describing it as extremely difficult and noting that his team’s mission to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals is not yet complete.
Lucho led his team to a 2-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of the quarter-finals, just days after a 2-1 defeat in Madrid in La Liga.
The match saw some refereeing controversy due to Pau Cubarsi’s sending off and Barca’s demands for a red card for Puyol in the second half, along with speculation about a breakdown in Simeone’s relationship with Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and his avoidance of shaking hands with him.
Simeone delighted with first Camp Nou win
When asked after the match about his first victory at Camp Nou, the Argentine coach replied, “We’d never won at Camp Nou before. It’s incredibly difficult. They’re one of the best teams in Europe, alongside Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.”
He added, “Thanks to good teamwork, we were able to hurt them in crucial moments of the game. The second goal gave us even more confidence.”
He continued, “We knew what they were doing with their high defensive line. We practiced it well. We’ve hurt them in almost every match in situations like that.”
He went on, “It was difficult because they press very well and wear you down. They’ve won 22 of their last 23 matches and scored in all of them. It’s always tough when you come here.”
Simeone refused to consider his team’s mission accomplished after the first-leg victory, saying, “We will try to put on a good performance. We need our fans more than ever. We need them to be strong and push us forward in this difficult match.”
Did Simeone deliberately avoid shaking hands with Hansi Flick?
Controversy arose regarding Simeone’s apparent refusal to shake hands with Barcelona coach Hansi Flick after the match, given the rumors of a strained relationship between the two.
After the last league match, Simeone was seen telling Flick, “You have to come back,” and the two appeared visibly angry with each other during the post-match handshake.
Today, moments before the final whistle, Simeone decided to run to the dressing room without shaking Flick’s hand, a move widely interpreted as a deliberate attempt to avoid greeting the German coach.
Flick: I will always protect Yamal, no matter what!
Flick: The refereeing helped Atlético Madrid
Flick also criticized the refereeing, considering it one of the reasons for Atlético Madrid’s victory. The coach refused to concede defeat and affirmed that his team would fight in the second leg to stage a comeback.
Regarding Cubarsi’s dismissal, the German said, “It might have been correct, it might not have been… I’m not sure if he touched him enough because the ball was behind him.”
On the penalty appeal in the second half following Atlético Madrid’s Puyol’s red card, he said, “If he handled the ball and no foul was given, it’s very clear to me. I don’t understand why VAR didn’t intervene.”
He concluded, “We’re thinking positively. The situation isn’t ideal for us, but ultimately, I believe we have the quality and the players capable of making the difference. That’s what we’ll rely on in the second leg. We’ll fight for the full ninety minutes; that’s our job.”
