UCL:Simeone 'excited' by all-Madrid final

01 May 2014 09:07:50
Atletico Madrid coach Diego
Simeone is relishing the
prospect of leading his side
against city rivals Real
Madrid in the Champions
League final after eliminating Chelsea in the
last four.
The two Madrid clubs will become the first
teams from the same city to contest a
European Cup final when they meet in Lisbon
on 24 May after Atletico won 3-1 at Chelsea
in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Atletico have taken four points from Real in
the league this season, having beaten them
for the first time in 14 years in last year's
Copa del Rey final.
Simeone, however, does not believe that
Atletico's intimate knowledge of their rivals
will necessarily work in their favour.
"I don't see it as an advantage or a
disadvantage," he said.
"The reality is that we know each other very
well and have been playing each other for a
really long time. We will be playing a
powerful club who are used to the big
European nights.
"It's been many years since we've been
there, so it will be a new experience for us,
but we'll be very eager and excited to play
well in the final."
Atletico last appeared in a European Cup final
in 1974, when they lost 4-0 to Bayern Munich
in a replay at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels
after a 1-1 draw in their first encounter.
Simeone has also taken the club to within
two wins of a first La Liga crown since 1996,
but the former Argentina midfielder played
down suggestions that he is now the world's
pre-eminent coach.
"I don't think it's the right time to think about
that or talk about that," said the 44-year-old,
who had two spells at Atletico as a player.
"Right now I'm just focusing on our next
game against Levante. I just want to
congratulate the players and the staff at the
club, because without their hard work we
wouldn't be here."
Asked if it had been the best moment of his
managerial career, Simeone replied:
"Considering we were playing against such a
big opponent at their own stadium, that
always enhances the game.
"I'm very happy with the second-half
reaction. We played very well in the second
half and controlled the game against world-
class opponents.
"That will be the lasting memory of this
game, that we controlled the game against a
great side and were able to reach the final."
Another former Atletico player, Fernando
Torres, tipped the balance of the tie in
Chelsea's favour when he swept home a
cross from Cesar Azpilicueta to put the hosts
1-0 up in the 36th minute of Wednesday's
game.
Adrian Lopez equalised minutes later,
however, putting the visitors ahead on away
goals as the first leg had ended goalless,
before a Diego Costa penalty and a 72nd-
minute Arda Turan goal killed the tie.
Costa, a reported transfer target for Chelsea,
had to go off in the 76th minute after
sustaining a knock, but Simeone played
down concerns about his fitness.
"He's fine, he's OK," he said.
"He doesn't have any strange problems and
I'm sure tomorrow (Thursday) the medical
staff will be able to give a more precise
diagnosis, but as far as we're concerned,
he's OK."
Simeone concluded his post-match press
conference with an unprompted remark that
drew guffaws from the journalists present.
"I want to congratulate the mothers of these
players, because they gave them big
'cojones' to play the way they did today!" he
said with a grin.