Atletico Madrid head coach “Diego
Simeone” have come out to defend his team approach after eliminating Liverpool
out of the Champions League with a 3-2 victory after extra time at Anfield to
reach the quarter-finals, winning 4-2 on aggregate.
The
holders looked to have ended Atletico's dogged resistance when Roberto Firmino
put them ahead in the last-16 tie after Georginio Wijnaldum's first-half header
forced the second leg into an extra 30 minutes.
However,
Liverpool were made to rue a host of missed chances to kill the tie off in 90
minutes as Llorente twice curled home from outside the box before Alvaro Morata
twisted the knife by breaking away to score in added time of extra time.
Defeat
ends Jurgen Klopp's proud record of never losing a two-legged European tie as
Liverpool manager and he took a swipe of Atletico's defensive tactics.
"The
way they play, I don't get it," said Klopp. "They could play proper
football but they stand deep and have counter-attacks."
It
remains to be seen if and when Atletico will play in the last eight due to the
chaos caused across the continent by the new coronavirus.
But
Simeone basked in another famous European night for the side he has twice led
to the final in his eight years in charge.
"We
play to win, with the arms that we have," said Simeone. "Respecting
our identity, the characteristics of our players and exploiting the defects of
our rivals."
A
packed Anfield played its part in trying to roar Liverpool onto another
Champions League conquest as, unlike in numerous countries across Europe, no
restrictions have so far been put on supporters attending games in the United
Kingdom.
But
it was the nearly 3,000 travelling fans in attendance, despite the fact games
in Spain will be played behind closed doors for the next two weeks, that
celebrated a stoic rearguard display from their side.
The
European champions did not manage a single shot on target in a 1-0 defeat in
Madrid three weeks ago, but Jan Oblak was quickly put to work.
But
Oblak was helpless as Liverpool levelled the tie just before half-time through
Wijnaldum's powerful downward header.
The
goal did not change Atletico's approach as they played a risky game and relied
on Oblak to keep them in the game.
The
Slovenian saved from Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Firmino, while
Andy Robertson hit the bar as Liverpool missed a number of chances that
ultimately came back to cost them.
"I
have no doubt Oblak is the best goalkeeper in the world," added Simeone.
Despite
Liverpool being on the brink of a first Premier League title in 30 years, their
number nine Firmino had not scored at home all season until four minutes into
extra-time.
The
Brazilian's header from Wijnaldum's cross came back off the post and perfectly
back into his path to slot home with Oblak grounded.
"Everybody
who saw the game tonight knows it could have been different," said Klopp.
"I loved our first 90 minutes, but we scored the second goal too
late."
However,
no sooner had Liverpool gone in front for the first time in the tie than
Atletico hit back with a sucker-punch.
The
visitors had barely tested stand-in Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian, but the loss
of Alisson Becker to a hip injury eventually proved Liverpool's downfall.
Adrian
fired a simple clearance straight to Joao Felix, who fed Llorente and he found
the bottom corner.
"The
pass was not helpful. Adrian is a super player, I love the boy, but in this
moment, it is the wrong decision," added Klopp.
Llorente
had joined Atletico from bitter rivals Real Madrid in a controversial move in
June.
But
the man whose father and great uncle, Francisco Gento, also played for Real,
made himself a Rojiblanco hero with a second that secured Atletico's place in
the last eight with another precise low finish in added time at the end of the
first half of extra time.
Another
former Real player Morata then broke away and finished calmly to inflict
Liverpool's first Champions League home defeat since 2014.
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