Diego Simeone hailed Arsenal because the ‘best team’ Atletico Madrid have faced this season after his side’s deflating Champions League semi-final defeat.
Simeone took his Atletico side to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night hoping to succeed in the club’s first Champions League final since 2016.
The primary leg ended 1-1 and one other cagey game in north London was settled by Bukayo Saka’s first-half goal.
Arsenal haven’t only booked their place in a primary Champions League final in 20 years but are closing in on the Premier League title, boasting a five-point lead over Manchester City.
Simeone said Arsenal were worthy winners of the primary semi-final tie and described Mikel Arteta’s team as the most effective he has faced this season despite meeting La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid on multiple occasions.
Asked whether Atletico were unlucky not to succeed in the ultimate, which will likely be held on May 30 in Budapest, Simeone said: ‘Well if we got knocked out it’s because our opponents deserved to get through.
‘They took their big likelihood within the first-half and so they deserved to get through. I feel calm, I feel peaceful.
‘We weren’t clinical enough with the situations we were in. We improved within the second-half. There have been things that might’ve gone our way but they didn’t.
‘We gave it our all and now now we have to simply accept the place that we’re in. Due to our supporters and players I feel proud to be where we’re without delay.
‘I said we desired to compete and now we have done that. Unfortunately we haven’t won anything but now we have got to places which can be hard to get to.
‘Arsenal were the higher team over these two legs, they’re the most effective team now we have faced this season. They play with a rhythm and a conviction that may be very difficult to contain.’
Discussing Gunners boss Arteta in his post-match press conference, Simeone added: ‘I feel Mikel has done an incredible job at Arsenal.
‘He’s been attempting to get thus far for a very long time, to succeed in the Champions League and to win the league.
‘They’ve incredible financial power, and that’s linked to what they’re doing, I’m really pleased for them. They deserve it. They’ve been working very hard for a few years.’
Simeone also hailed Arsenal as the most effective team Atletico Madrid have come up against after losing to the Gunners within the group stages of the Champions League.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, meanwhile, also admitted that Arsenal ‘deserved’ to advance to the Champions League final, where they’ll face Bayern Munich or holders PSG.
‘Whoever wins is at all times the most effective team,’ he said. ‘They won it and congratulations to them. After all, we’re sad and offended but that’s football.
‘The second half was good. Possibly we showed them just a little bit an excessive amount of respect in the primary and were afraid to play. It was good after that but not enough to progress to the ultimate.
‘It’s unlucky for us and we’re upset but it surely’s life. Arsenal were higher and so they’re in the ultimate.’
PSG have a narrow one-goal advantage over Bayern Munich ahead of their semi-final second leg after sealing an exciting 5-4 win in Paris last week.
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