DBasia.news – Carrying the playing style of Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid won the match against Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League 16 at Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday (21/2) early morning Western Indonesian Time, with a final score of 2-0.
Jose Maria Gimenez and Diego Godin were the two defenders who listed their names on the scoreboard, took Atletico to win with a score of 2-0, while continuing the record never to lose against Italian teams: 10 matches, eight wins, two draws.
“These are my players. In football, you can win many things, but will you survive with these kids? That’s all, they play in competitive teams and that’s the most beautiful thing that can happen in the world of sports – being “part of the team knows how to compete and fight as you do,” Simeone said to AS after the game ended.
Another interesting note from the match, Atletico has also been the team with the cleanest sheets in the Champions League since being handled by Simeone from 2011. Atletico recorded clean sheets 34 times, followed by Bayern Munich (33), Real Madrid (32), Barcelona (31), and Juventus (30).
Simeone also explained his celebrations which were fairly rude after Gimenez scored. The Argentine confirmed the celebration was done, seeing Atletico have more courage in playing than the Bianconeri.
“You need great courage to play Koke and (Diego) Costa after a long absence due to injury and have a good physical condition, and everything ends well,” Simeone added.
In addition to explaining the celebration he did, Simeone also insinuated Giorgio Chiellini when Alvaro Morata’s goal was annulled by the referee, after seeing the VAR (Video Assistant Referee). Chiellini looked down, but with very little contact from Morata.
“We hope that all the small details can be adjusted so that it also benefits us. A big tall player will not fall back, and the reverse application also applies to Chiellini. Give him 10 out of 10 for his theatrical action, the way he falls is incredibly great,” concluded Simeone.
With a 2-0 goal aggregate advantage, Atletico Madrid only need to play a goalless draw to qualify for the quarter-finals. Defeats with a score of 0-1 in the second leg which took place in Turin will also continue to pass them to the last eight of the 2018-19 Champions League.
“The fight is not over, there is still one game to play. Certainly, we will suffer against a great opponent, with players who are also great,” explained Simeone.