Diego Simeone accepts Atletico Madrid’s defeat to ‘beautiful’ Borussia Dortmund

Diego Simeone admitted Borussia Dortmund were ‘beautiful’ to watch but ‘liked’ how Atletico Madrid’s 4-0 defeat came so early into the season.

Raphael Guerreiro’s brace off the bench, goals from Axel Witsel and Jadon Sancho and three assists by Real Madrid loanee Achraf Hakimi blew Atleti away, leaving Dortmund three points clear of Simeone’s side at the top of Champions League Group A.

“Congratulations to our opponents for their strength, counterattacks and ability to take advantage of our losses,” the Coach said after the game on Wednesday.

“We managed the game at first, but then they scored an own goal. We started the second half as the better team, but then they scored their second goal.

“We hit the woodwork twice and their third goal came… When you’re clinical, what happened to Dortmund can happen to you.

“I loved their performance. They were practical, dynamic and understood that possession is moving the ball forward, not just keeping it uselessly.

“Hopefully they keep playing like this because it’s so beautiful to watch. We can comment on the final outcome of the game, but the result is so heavy that it doesn’t make sense to explain anything.

“We can draw any positives we’d like, but I’d always prefer a 4-0. We have a lot of things to work on, but I like how [this result] has come now.

“They know [my criticism of them]. I don’t have to talk about it here. I’m clear on the path we want to take and what I want from them.

“They’re competing well, they’re playing lots of matches in a row and it’s not easy. I have to support these great players of mine. We know which path to take.”

Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Atletico Madrid

Witsel 38, Guerreiro 73, 83, Sancho 83

Borussia Dortmund:Burki; Piszczek, Diallo, Zagadou, Achraf; Witsel, Delaney (Dahoud 35); Pulisic (Sancho 79), Gotze,  Bruun Larsen (Guerreiro 63); Reus

Atletico Madrid:Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Lucas Hernandez, Filipe; Koke, Thomas (Rodri 46), Saul (Correa 70), Lemar; Costa, Griezmann

Referee:Taylor (ENG)

Tags Borussia Dortmund Diego Simeone
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