Atletico Madrid's Simeone Delighted with Team's Bravery and Spirit

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone praised his team's courage and spirit after their 2-1 comeback win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone praised his team's bravery and resilience after their thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. The victory was all the more impressive given that Atletico played with 10 men for over an hour after midfielder Pablo Barrios was shown a straight red card in the 24th minute. Simeone hailed the win as one that would live long in the memory, saying, “It was a match that will surely remain in the memory of the people who saw it for a long, long time.”

Simeone's side trailed 1-0 at halftime after Piero Hincapie's header gave Leverkusen the lead. However, Atletico staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, thanks to Julian Alvarez's brace. Simeone was delighted with the win, which lifted Atletico to third in the table, and praised the joy it brought to the fans. “Because it was an important match and an important win earned in a very exciting Champions League night. I'm happy with the joy that all the people who came to the stadium left with. They went home after living a nice, nice moment with us.”

Atletico's victory marked their 16th win in their last 17 games in all competitions. Simeone acknowledged that Leverkusen had started the game strongly, but felt that his team's determination and spirit ultimately paid off. “The team (Atletico) didn't start well, they were just better than us,” Simeone added. “They didn't create many scoring situations but there was one team that played and another that couldn't get into the game.”

The win leaves Atletico in third place in the table with 15 points, three behind Barcelona and six off leaders Liverpool. Leverkusen, meanwhile, are in sixth place with 13 points, but saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end.

Atletico Madrid's coach Diego Simeone revealed that his team's impressive second-half performance against Real Madrid was a result of their discussions at halftime. Simeone stated, “We talked at half-time and it's no coincidence what happened in the second half. We played with courage a man short, performed intelligently, gaining metres on the pitch, taking advantage of everything that could happen in our favour.”

Simeone also praised Argentine striker Julian Alvarez, who has been a crucial addition to the team since his signing in the close season for approximately 75 million euros plus 20 million in potential add-ons. Alvarez's performance has exceeded Simeone's expectations, with the coach saying, “When we were thinking about Julian we were looking forward to this. He's a player of the highest level. A footballer of the present who has an even better future ahead of him.”

Simeone expressed his admiration for Alvarez's work ethic and humility, stating, “Hopefully, as a team, we can help him improve, our coaching staff. And that he continues to have the humility he has shown running, working, fighting, going all out because that's what he's all about.” The coach is confident that Alvarez will become a legendary player for Atletico Madrid, saying, “I have no doubt that as the years go by he will be in a special place at the club.”