Simeone predicting one for the purists
MADRID — Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes his side faces a “pure night” of soccer when it takes a 1-0 lead to Leicester City for the second leg of its Champions League quarterfinal.
Antoine Griezmann’s contentious penalty was the only goal at Vicente Calderon Stadium on Wednesday as Atletico could not make the most of its dominance while Leicester failed to muster a single shot on goal.
“We anticipate a fantastic football night. An English stadium, the fans close to the pitch, it will be a pure night of football,” Simeone said of the return leg on April 18.
Griezmann was the standout performer in Madrid. The 26-year-old won the spot-kick when he was taken down on the edge of the area — although replays showed the contact was outside the box — after a storming run from inside his own half.
The France international missed his previous four Atletico penalties, including in last season’s Champions League final.
However, he dusted himself down to slot home his 24th goal of the season.
“He is a fabulous player,” said Simeone. “He is a complete player; you don’t know what position he plays because he is all over the pitch.
“He is still growing, he is playing very well at an important part of the season and is assuming more responsibility in the hierarchy of the team.”
Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare claimed his side was let downbySwedishrefereeJonas Eriksson’s penalty decision.
“I think we were hard done by,” said Shakespeare. “It was a definite foul but it was outside the box.”
Shakespeare has revived Leicester’s fortunes in the Premier League after last month replacing the fired Claudio Ranieri, who led the Foxes to the title last season.
And the new boss is confident the English champion can turn around the narrow deficit, having won all four of its home Champions League games this season without conceding.
“We’re still alive, we want to stay (in the Champions League) but we know we still have a challenge ahead against a very, very good team,” said Shakespeare.
“We know it is still going to beaverydifficultreturnmatch.
“We have a very good home record, our fans enjoy these Champions League nights.
“We have to create more chances, we have to attack probably a bit more than we did tonight, but we are aware of what we need to do in the second leg.”
Shakespeare, though, conceded a more open game could play into Atletico’s hands as it seeks to reach a third semifinal in four seasons.
“It will be very difficult because we have to be more open and attack more,” he said.
“One of Atletico’s pluses is the counter-attack, but we are still in this tie.”