Diego Simeone claims Atletico Madrid would have beaten Barcelona “if Lionel Messi wore our jersey”.
Messi’s free kick – and 600th career goal – was all that separated Barca and Atleti on Sunday, but Simeone felt his side’s performance deserved at least a point.
“As it were, if Messi wore our jersey, we’d have won. He’s a unique player,” the Coach said after the game.”
“It was a very tight match like the first time around. They had more possession in the first half, and in the second there was a reaction from us, when we played our hand. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the draw.
“I don’t think it was an issue of attitude. We could’ve combined better and pressed more, but I always consider the lads’ attitude to be the best.
“I leave here with the feeling that we are what we saw in the second half, a team with strength and hard work, in which the system doesn’t matter but conviction, and in the second half we played with a different conviction.
“Everything suggests they won’t lose three or four matches, but this is football. It’s very difficult to rush things.
“You have to think about the next game and keep improving, although obviously we’re close because we keep competing in the best way possible.”
