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MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 26: Diego Simeone, Head Coach of Atletico de Madrid, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Metropolitano on November 26, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Diego Simeone tells Italy legends Alessandro Del Piero and Alessandro Costacurta that Atletico Madrid have learned that they must ‘hurt’ Barcelona, ‘otherwise, they will.’
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Simeone’s Atletico Madrid knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Simeone, a former Catania coach and an ex-midfielder of Pisa, Lazio and Inter, spoke toSky Sport Italia at full-time.
Simeone examines Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona with Italy legends
Fabio Capello asked whether the Colchoneros should have kept a higher line in the final ten minutes, with Barcelona reduced to ten men.
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“You know well that sometimes what one wants is not what the players can give,” Simeone replied.
“Sometimes the coaches shout, but the players are like: ‘Gaffer, I just can’t get there.’ Even with one man down, they couldn’t get there. We knew we had to keep a higher line. I kept telling Julian: ‘Mark Pedri, go on the right.’ But he said: ‘Mister, I’m dead.’ I was angrier after the first leg, because we played one man up for 45 minutes, so I was angry when I left. If you don’t score against them, you lose, because they are so strong. Even if you play behind the ball, you’ll concede in the end.”
Ex-Italy defender Costacurta praised Simeone for resting all his starters in the previous La Liga match.
“On Saturday, we had made many changes to the lineup; everyone rested, knowing the effort we’d need today,” said Simeone.
“But, Mamma Mia, they play so well, they attack so well, they come from everywhere. Against them, we have understood that we have to hurt them; otherwise, they will.”
Atletico Madrid have reached the Champions League semis four times under Simeone and twice made it to the Final, so Del Piero asked if the Argentine felt “something special” this season.
“Yes, I do. And there is,” Simeone concluded, smiling.
ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
