Simeone: "We could not get back in to a game we could have drawn"

"We had very clear chances and were outstanding at times. Yes we lacked speed to generate more chances. In the first half we struggled a bit more and in the second we tried everything but just couldn’t break them down". said Diego Pablo Simeone.

Atletico giving everything to equalise from a corner Orbaiz hit them on the break after Asenjo had gone up for the top corner. "The decision was mine. Thought the game was almost over it would have been better at 1-1. Football is a game of risk and from where we are we had to take one. The responsibility is mine and the second goal will force us to score one more goal in the second leg", he told the media after the game.

Simeone's men have now got two consecutive defeats but the coach not considered it to be a problem. "It was not a bad start and although they got the early goal it was pretty much their only clear chance. It was not like the other day in Vallecas", said the Argentine.

For all the effort the goal just wouldn’t come. "We are lacking precision. In the first half we struggled to play and it's true that we're not as clinical in front of goal as we used to be". He wen on to say "Defensively we have suffered lately. It is such a long season and there are times when things don’t go your way and we have to go through one of them. We'll work twice as hard to improve", said Simeone.

After twenty consecutive victories, Rubin stopped Atletico in front of their fans. "The fans have to be proud of the players", he said emphatically before calling in his players for training on Friday morning at 11.30am in the Majadahonda Sports City.