The first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal ended in a 1:1 draw. Following the match, Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone shared his thoughts on the refereeing decisions and the course of the game.
The Argentine specialist expressed dissatisfaction regarding certain episodes. He emphasized that in high-level matches such as a semi-final, any penalty decisions must be absolutely clear and beyond doubt:
“For a penalty to be awarded, it must be a real penalty. The contact between Gansko and Dyokeresh seemed very light to me. This is not an ordinary game; it is a Champions League semi-final,” Simeone said.
At the same time, he specifically noted that he believes in efficiency and results rather than luck. Analyzing the match, the coach pointed out that the first half was relatively balanced. According to him, although the opponent had more ball control, they failed to create serious dangerous situations.
"I don't believe in luck; I believe in efficiency. The first half was even. The opponent moved better with the ball but created almost no chances,” Simeone stated.
In the second half, Atletico took control of the game. Simeone noted that his team acted much more organized and disciplined during this period, while the opponent's intensity decreased. As a result, the Madrid side played reliably in defense and managed to create opportunities in attack. In particular, this included the chances that arose for Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman.
"In the second half, we played better. Their intensity dropped, and we began to play more organized. We defended better and created chances for Griezmann and Lookman,” Simeone said.
All attention is now focused on the return leg. The second match will take place on the night of May 5 to May 6 at the Emirates Stadium in London, and this specific game will decide the fate of the ticket to the final.
In short, neither team managed to gain an advantage in the first leg. Now, all calculations remain for the decisive clash in London.
