"We know that when we face important rivals it can happen," said Simeone, apparently very calm after losing 0-2 to Bayern in one of the most unappealable defeats that Atlético has suffered in the Champions League since the new Metropolitan stadium was inaugurated in 2017. "We know that teams like Bayern or Arsenal are better than us. To compete on equal terms against them we have to reach the end of the season at 120%, because at 100% we are not is enough.”
The 3,000 fans traveling from Munich ended the night singing some choruses with the melodic base of Aquarela do Brasil. Party-goers and relaxed because the trip to Madrid had been a success and a continuous pleasure. Atlético had barely threatened their team's goal. 19 shots by Bayern against seven by the home team clearly reflected the tone of a strange match due to the dominance of Kane and his teammates.
“We failed to maintain the game we had played until the first goal,” lamented Simeone, as if until the 0-1 scoreline he had witnessed a balanced duel. “We know their strengths but we also know our strengths and weaknesses, and I think that until minute 55-60 we competed very well.”
The Argentine coach tried to convey a certain optimism against the evidence of the facts. Nothing is more expressive of the dominance of one team over another than the goal situations generated and suffered. Bayern, on that level, was overwhelmingly superior. Neuer hardly had any problems while at the other end of the field Oblak couldn't stop seeing the fire coming. Barrios thwarted a point-blank shot by Stanisic, for starters. Kane then tried to score with a half-volley, and later had another shot from outside the area and a clear chance in the six-yard box. Kane enjoyed another one before the break, when Oblak was left alone and fired over the crossbar. But the clearest chance came from Karl, who failed to shoot between the three posts when he was left alone at the penalty spot. Atlético was able to go into half-time with four goals against. By chance, the scoreboard read 0-0.
Simeone insisted on his vision. The technician thought he detected light at the end of the tunnel. "The presence of Sorloth gave us the possibility of not always having to go out in an organized collective game, and to be able to have situations of winning that divided ball and having a presence in the opponent's field. The game went on that side. It was controlled. We were playing it how we wanted to play it...".
Everything was going in an exciting way for Atlético, from the perspective of their coach, until Robin le Normand tried to protect a ball in his area and Lennart Karl stole it from him before striking down Oblak. "Goals are mistakes, there is always a mistake there hanging around before every goal," said Simeone, compassionate towards Le Normand, "it can happen, it's the game, it's football. Football is based on many good individual actions and many mistakes. Football is full of mistakes. Those who can take advantage of that situation are the most benefited."
The controversial Karl
The award went to Karl. At 18 years old, this winger who emerged last year as a great promise for the Bavarian youth team and the German national team, had played a poor game after several weeks of controversy. His statements saying that one day he would like to play for Real Madrid disgraced the Bayern board, which regarding the boy's dispersion had a dialectical exchange with Michael Ballack, his representative. Karl had lost prominence in the team and his statements were untimely. He was a substitute against Dortmund last weekend and entered the Metropolitano on tiptoe. As a starter. He seemed timid, almost elusive, when in the first half he moved away from his team's possession circuits. He preferred to take refuge in the bubble of the midfielder, between Atlético's pivots and centre-backs, waiting for Kimmich, Bischof, Kane and Olise to bring the ball to his feet like someone carrying food from the plate to his mouth.
Aaron Danks, Bayern's replacement coach, who replaced Vincent Kompany, who was recovering from an infection, looked grim when asked if he was happy for Karl. "I am very happy for the team, for how we defended and attacked and generated chances collectively. There has been a lot of noise around Karl. He is a player with a lot of character and has defined the 0-1 score very well. I am very happy for the group. Tonight has been a group night, for how we moved forward and overcame the difficulties together."
