The Atlético de Madrid head coach, Diego Pablo Simeone, faced a harsh moment after a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen which sealed their mathematical elimination from the Champions League. The outcome could have shifted with a late penalty in the 98th minute, but that chance did not materialize.
Simeone later reflected on the match, noting that the game has followed a familiar script for the season. He pointed out that in many games the team did not add enough, and on other occasions could have converted more chances. The late penalty was saved by the Leverkusen goalkeeper and struck the crossbar, with Carrasco involved in the sequence. He described the first chapter of this Champions League campaign as defined by such moments and explained that the result felt inevitable in some aspects of the performance.
The Metropolitano crowd witnessed a telling finish. A penalty taken by Carrasco was initially celebrated by some but promptly chalked off after VAR indicated an infringement in the buildup, just as the whistle blew. Simeone emphasized that while excuses are not his style, the night demonstrated a strong display in the second half, with well-executed counter-attacks and goalkeeping heroics from Oblak helping to keep the scoreline competitive. He framed the outcome as a harsh but candid reflection of their current form.
@Simeone on the dismissal of Atlético: “I recognize something familiar when the team seems to surrender in the second half.”
@CarrascoY21 delivered a standout performance in a game that showcased his contribution on the night. #LaCasaDelFootball #UCL
Movistar Plus+ captured the moment, underscoring the frustration that the result brings. Simeone stressed that the team did not plan to miss this chance to advance and that the second-half performance, while valiant, could not overturn the deficit from earlier games. He highlighted the two possible paths after this setback: either accept the setback or reaffirm the resolve to keep pushing, wherever possible.
Looking ahead, Simeone confirmed that the Europa League would be their next stage, recognizing that recovery would require a win in Porto while keeping an eye on Club Brugge’s likely result in Germany. He admitted that the group had offered good opportunities and recalled the previous campaign’s painful exits, urging the squad to stay focused on the remaining European challenge.
Apologized to Oblak
Jan Oblak, Atlético de Madrid’s goalkeeper, expressed regret over the night’s difficult result. He described the finish as brutal and conveyed that the entire rojiblanco squad felt deep disappointment, while the fans deserved more after the missed penalty at the end of the match.
Oblak thanked the supporters for their steadfast backing after the draw that ended the Champions League run for the season. He conveyed genuine remorse, stating that the team felt intense sorrow and that the supporters deserved greater joy. His comments, delivered after the final whistle at the Metropolitano, emphasized that the squad could not deliver the hoped-for result and would not continue in Europe for this campaign.
Oblak reflected on the path to that moment, noting that the second half showed the team’s best effort, but the earlier results – including losses against Club Brugge and Leverkusen, plus a draw with a Belgian side – weighed heavily. He admitted there was luck involved, and that the disappointment ran deep, describing the match as a brutal conclusion to a difficult stretch.