Simeone: “I look back and enjoy this step to the second round with joy”

The Atlético de Madrid coach praised the game at a press conference after qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League. In the first instance, he attended the Movistar Champions League microphone:

It was difficult. “At no time did we think it would be simple. We had already seen them last year being out like this in the last game against Liverpool doing a very good game. We find a team with a very high intensity, in passages of the first half their start It was very important and it was difficult for us to get into the rhythm that they proposed. There were several fouls that cut our cons that resulted in no more punishment for them. Their team proposed to win and we looked for spaces to hurt them where we wanted to hurt. The goal came to us Very well to accommodate us and in the second half we played with more criteria and intensity with a higher rhythm that equaled theirs. “

There was forcefulness. “Everything we have generated against Lokomotiv and Bayern in the two games paid off today. Sometimes you generate a lot and you don't convert and sometimes the other way around. Football is wonderful because it pays for force.”

Carrasco is decisive. “Carrasco's second half was fantastic. He signed a great job and he has to continue on that line. He can't get off that line because that's where he competes very well, it's very important.”

Suárez and Saúl stormed off. “It is logical, I would also go out angry because we all want to play 90 minutes. Important footballers when they have to go out for a teammate who comes out with his illusion of doing well is normal for them to be upset, it is understood.”

Rival in eighths. “I think that out of the nine years that I have been at the club, we have qualified for the eighth eight times. I look back and enjoy this step to the eighth with joy. For me it is not normal, it is very important to be another year in the eighth competing to be between the best. It takes me to a moment of great joy. “

Match against Madrid. “No, final in the absence of so many days I do not consider it absolutely. Madrid is a great team, with a coach who always in adversity achieves a change before the responsibility of any game and they compete. I admire them, because every year they are competing and it's not easy. They always are. “

Put first: “They were better in the first half. We get the goal from set pieces that we wanted to do. That hit was good and the inning was the same. The second half was different, we had situations and so did they. The team got better in the game and it takes us to a place that we needed but we must also enjoy being in such an important phase as the last 16 of the Champions League. “