MADRID – Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola was relieved that his team survived the return leg once morest Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, but his words of praise for Diego Simeone were not convincing.
City held out for a 0-0 draw in the second leg and qualified for the semi-finals thanks to a 1-0 victory in the first leg.
Guardiola praised Atletico’s performance in the second half when he pushed hard for a goal that would have taken the match into overtime.
Guardiola said: “Atletico forced us to retreat to the defense, it was as if we forgot how to play, but it was well deserved by Atletico. Today we celebrate qualification, but with our performance today, we might have said goodbye.”
The Spanish coach blamed his team’s busy schedule and this weekend’s league clash with Liverpool on City’s lack of intensity in the second half.
Guardiola said: “We came from a difficult match, and we did not have time to prepare for this match, I have great respect for Atletico. He can play the way he wants, I have never criticized Atletico’s style and what Diego Simeone does, he knows how to do it more than anyone else in the world.” .
But Atlético coach Simeone was not convinced of Guardiola’s sincerity.
The Argentine coach added in the press conference: “I have no reason to express an opinion regarding what someone says, whether it is good or bad. Smart people who can express words of praise can despise you. But we are not stupid, I am clear regarding our pride in who we are and the way we compete. And I love to see Those who win apply our style, because it shows once once more that the important thing is to win.”
City qualified to face Real Madrid, the 13-time European champion, who knocked out defending champion Chelsea.
Guardiola told reporters: “Real Madrid is the king of the Champions League, and I’m looking forward to facing him.”
He added, “We have reached the semi-finals for the third time in our history and the second in a row, but if we play as we did in the second half once morest Atletico, we will not have a chance once morest Real Madrid.”
