"I hope we meet in the Champions League" - Diego Simeone comments on the match against Barcelona

Now Simeone's men are just one step away from the trophy.

Details: Despite a 3-0 defeat in yesterday’s match, Atletico Madrid secured a place in the Copa del Rey final thanks to their emphatic 4-0 victory in the first leg.

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Despite such a tense and unpredictable clash, Atletico Madrid’s head coach, 55-year-old Diego Simeone, praised Barcelona as a brilliant team and addressed Catalan manager Hansi Flick:

"I told Hansi Flick that Barcelona are playing brilliantly, they’re a top-class team.

I also said to him that I hope we meet again in the Champions League quarter-finals.

When we finished the first leg against Barcelona, I was angry because we should have scored one more goal."

People asked me: "Why?" We won 4-0. I told them: "Because I know what these Barcelona players are capable of; they play so well." Simeone admitted.

For Atletico Madrid, this Copa del Rey final is their first in 13 years. Back in 2013, Atletico managed to defeat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu to lift the trophy.

Reminder: Fantastic statistics! Lamine Yamal has already provided 35 assists since the start of the 2024/25 season – only one player has more