Diego Simeone aimed a thinly veiled dig at Pep Guardiola on a spirited and bad-mood night at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday, where Manchester City’s semi-final lead was overshadowed by a brawl on the pitch and in the tunnel.
After the match Simeone was asked if he thought Guardiola had disrespected him during the quarter-finals, which City won 1–0 on aggregate after a goalless draw in the second leg.
“Often those who have a very good vocabulary, those who are very intelligent, may praise you with contempt. But those of us who have a little less vocabulary, we are not fools either,” said Simeon .
After the first leg, Guardiola said “in pre-history, today and in a million years, it is very difficult to attack 5-5 (formation)”, which was taken by some as a criticism of Atlético’s defensive style.
Guardiola insisted he had once admired Atletico’s flexibility. “He can play however he wants, all I have said is that it is very difficult to play against him,” Guardiola said.
“I have always respected this institution and this team, I would never dare to attack this team. When a team knows how to defend like any other team in the world, it is difficult.”
Neither Simeone nor Guardiola wanted to comment on the behavior of their players during the match or in the tunnel.
“I didn’t see it,” said Simeon. “I was appreciating the fans. There was no one there by the time I walked in.”
Police entered the tunnel after full time as the scuffle between players continued, with video footage showing Atlético’s Stephen Savic shouting at City’s Jack Grealish, while an angry Sime Versalco was prevented from confronting Kyle Walker. . At one point, Versalco appears to be spitting across the tunnel in Walker’s direction.
UEFA has yet to confirm whether they will launch an investigation into the incidents.
Atletico’s Felipe was sent off at the end of the match after taking a swipe at Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden, who was already wearing a bandage around his head from a Felipe challenge.
Tackles and Foden’s fall sparked a brawl in the corner of the pitch as players, substitutes and staff ran. The scrap disrupted Atletico’s momentum as they pushed for the goal as they needed to take the tie to extra time.
Atletico felt that City’s players were wasting time.
City defender Aymeric Laporte said: “I don’t know if it was us wasting time or they were getting into a stupid fight. We know what they like and what they’ve done before.”
Atletico Madrid captain Koke said: “At times we are criticized for these things. So let’s see what people think about it today. You’ve seen it, so make up your mind.”
Manchester City will now face Real Madrid, while Liverpool will face Villarreal in the second semi-final.
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