DBasia.news – Atletico Madrid defeated Liverpool in the Champions League second leg, Thursday (12/03) AM with a score of 3-2. Los Rojiblancos manager, Diego Simeone, revealed the secret behind the victory.
The match must continue into extra time after Liverpool won 1-0 in 90 minutes thanks to Giorginio Wijnaldum’s single goal. The results has made the aggregate score 1-1. In extra time, the Reds scored first. However, Los Rojiblancos got up and scored three goals. Two of these goals were scored by Marcos Llorente.
After the match, Diego Simeone called the decision to include Marcos Llorente as a turning point as well as the key to bending Liverpool. He deliberately pulled striker Diego Costa to outwit opponents.
“Changes to the 5-4-1 pattern allowed us to create situations to counterattack and that was what happened. Costa’s replacement with Llorente has indeed become defensive, but actually it is not like that, “explained Diego Simeone as quoted from the official UEFA website.
Simeone also revealed another key, which was to keep pressing. According to him, it is fundamental to defeat everyone. Pressure on your opponent must not be relaxed even if you are lagging behind.
“In football, you need to find ways to make life difficult for your opponent. We have tried to pressure them since in their territories with Costa, (Joao) Felix, and (Angel) Correa. We did not give up after they scored the second goal. We made the position 1-2 and was more confident by it, “continued Diego Simeone.
For Diego Simeone, the victory over Liverpool this time felt sweet. As the opponent’s status is the defending Champions League winner and performed at Anfield Stadium which is known to be haunted. Before against Atletico Madrid, the Reds were unbeaten in 26 matches in European club events.