Champions League winner Wesley Sneijder expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the semi-final second leg between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, suggesting UEFA should have stopped the game in the first half. Although a single goal by Bukayo Saka secured a spot in the final for the Londoners, the Dutch legend insisted the level of football on display was too low for such a prestigious stage. This is reported by Goal.com .
Speaking on Ziggo Sport, Sneijder made a sharp comment: "I said that UEFA should have intervened as early as the 35th minute. They should have called London, sent both teams off the pitch, and held the final between Bayern and PSG the next day." According to him, Atletico Madrid's defensive approach and Arsenal's possession-based play reduced the entertainment value.
While acknowledging Mikel Arteta's coaching skills, Sneijder emphasized that Arsenal lacks true star players. "Arteta deserves a statue because he managed to keep a team like Atletico Madrid under pressure without having a single top-class player in his squad," the former midfielder added.
For his part, Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone accepted the defeat gracefully. Despite controversial situations, he did not look for excuses and admitted that the opponent deserved to reach the final. Simeone noted that he is proud of his players' efforts and that the team fought worthily throughout the season.
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