Diego Simeone has heaped praises on Atletico Madrid’s performance after they battled hard to seal a 2-1 win at Osasuna on Tuesday.
Los Rojiblancos had suffered a shock 1-0 loss at home to Celta Vigo in their previous match and needed a response, as a win would guarantee them a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
They did just that, securing maximum points although they were made to work very hard for the win by a dangerous Osasuna side.
Speaking after the match, Simeone was impressed with his side’s display in the clash as they sealed a top four finish for yet another campaign.
“There’s always something at stake, like finishing as high up the table as possible”, Simeone said.
“This past weekend (against Celta) we played a good game, but we weren’t as decisive as we were today, which allowed us to take the lead and control the match against an opponent with a lot riding on the game, looking both up and down the standings.
“Whenever we come here, it’s a tough match: a lot of balls in the box, a lot of people feeling like it’s a penalty, plays that make the referees hesitate,” Simeone continued.
Ademola Lookman put Atletico in front inside 15 minutes from the penalty spot, while Alexander Sorloth added a second goal after coming on in the second half.
Then, Marcos Llorente was sent off for the visitors, with Osasuna piling up pressure in search of an equalizer. They pulled one back late on, although it was not enough to mount a comeback as Atletico sealed the victory.
“We controlled the game very well, and every time we strung together four passes, we created chances”, the Argentine added.
“We lost in Seville and didn’t deserve it. We lost in Elche, we started very well, leading 0-1, and ended up down to 10 men; against Valencia and Osasuna, also on the road, we won. We always compete. Sometimes luck is on our side, other times against us, but there wasn’t a single match where we didn’t compete”, Simeone concluded.
Atletico will now head into their next clash against Girona with maximum confidence, before concluding their season against Villarreal in a potential third-place decider.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
