{"id":8399,"date":"2026-05-06T00:05:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T00:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=8399"},"modified":"2026-05-06T00:05:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T00:05:17","slug":"diego-simeone-makes-arsenal-and-barcelona-claim-after-atletico-madrid-defeat-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=8399","title":{"rendered":"Diego Simeone makes Arsenal and Barcelona claim after Atletico Madrid defeat | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28250606\" alt=\"Arsenal FC v Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 Semi Final Second Leg\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Diego Simeone during Atletico Madrid\u2019s defeat to Arsenal (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Diego Simeone hailed Arsenal as the \u2018best team\u2019 Atletico Madrid have faced this season after his side\u2019s deflating Champions League semi-final defeat.<\/p>\n<p>Simeone took his Atletico side to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night hoping to reach the club\u2019s first Champions League final since 2016.<\/p>\n<p>The first leg ended 1-1 and another cagey game in north London was settled by Bukayo Saka\u2019s first-half goal.<\/p>\n<p>Arsenal have not only booked their place in a first Champions League final in 20 years but are closing in on the Premier League title, boasting a five-point lead over Manchester City.<\/p>\n<p>Simeone said Arsenal were worthy winners of the first semi-final tie and described Mikel Arteta\u2019s team as the best he has faced this season despite meeting La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n<p>Asked whether Atletico were unlucky not to reach the final, which will be held on May 30 in Budapest, Simeone said: \u2018Well if we got knocked out it\u2019s because our opponents deserved to get through.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018They took their big chance in the first-half and they deserved to get through. I feel calm, I feel peaceful.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"458\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274701580.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28250562\" alt=\"Arsenal FC v Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 Semi Final Second Leg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Arsenal beat Atletico 2-1 across two legs (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018We weren\u2019t clinical enough with the situations we were in. We improved in the second-half. There were things that could\u2019ve gone our way but they didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We gave it our all and now we have to accept the place that we are in. Thanks to our supporters and players I feel proud to be where we are right now.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I said we wanted to compete and we have done that. Unfortunately we haven\u2019t won anything but we have got to places that are hard to get to.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"466\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274176156.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28250564\" alt=\"Arsenal FC v Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 Semi Final Second Leg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Simeone also heaped praise on Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018Arsenal were the better team over these two legs, they are the best team we have faced this season. They play with a rhythm and a conviction that is very difficult to contain.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Discussing Gunners boss Arteta in his post-match press conference, Simeone added: \u2018I think Mikel has done an incredible job at Arsenal.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He\u2019s been trying to get to this point for a long time, to reach the Champions League and to win the league.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274179766.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28250566\" alt=\"Arsenal FC v Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Atletico left north London disappointed (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018They have incredible financial power, and that\u2019s linked to what they\u2019re doing, I\u2019m really pleased for them. They deserve it. They\u2019ve been working very hard for many years.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Simeone also hailed Arsenal as the best team Atletico Madrid have come up against after losing to the Gunners in the group stages of the Champions League.<\/p>\n<p>Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, meanwhile, also admitted that Arsenal \u2018deserved\u2019 to advance to the Champions League final, where they will face Bayern Munich or holders PSG.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Whoever wins is always the best team,\u2019 he said. \u2018They won it and congratulations to them. Of course, we are sad and angry but that\u2019s football.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The second half was good. Maybe we showed them a little bit too much respect in the first and were afraid to play. It was good after that but not enough to progress to the final.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s unlucky for us and we\u2019re upset but it\u2019s life. Arsenal were better and they\u2019re in the final.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>PSG have a narrow one-goal advantage over Bayern Munich ahead of their semi-final second leg after sealing a thrilling 5-4 win in Paris last week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on <meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><br \/>\n<strong>Facebook,\u00a0<\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Metro_Sport\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Thierry Henry reveals private conversation with Arsenal star before Atletico Madrid win<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Arsene Wenger responds to Arsenal celebrations after Atletico Madrid win<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Declan Rice takes swipe at Chelsea after Arsenal reach Champions League final<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\">\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> Diego Simeone makes Arsenal and Barcelona claim after Atletico Madrid defeat | Football<br \/>\n<br \/>#Diego #Simeone #Arsenal #Barcelona #claim #Atletico #Madrid #defeat #Football<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Diego Simeone during Atletico Madrid\u2019s defeat to Arsenal (Picture: Getty) Diego Simeone hailed Arsenal as&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[617,6035,3907,1459,316,3743,317,2299,8205],"class_list":["post-8399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-arsenal","tag-atletico","tag-barcelona","tag-claim","tag-defeat","tag-diego","tag-football","tag-madrid","tag-simeone"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-1115x630.jpg",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274167569_1778023395-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}