Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Monday, April 13, 2026, 4:13 p.m. / Updated Monday, April 13, 2026, 4:13 p.m.
Atletico Madrid manager Digeo Simeone has made a number of statements ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barcelona.
In the round, the Madrid team won 2-0 at Camp Nou. The return is scheduled for April 14, from 22:00. Diego Simeone's message was simple before the decisive match at the Metropolitano: “our aim is to move on, we will approach the match the same way”
Diego Simeone prefaced Atletico Madrid – Barcelona in the Champions League: “Our goal is qualification”
“We know what we need and what we will be looking for on the field. Our objective is to move forward and we will play in such a way that this happens. We will approach the match as we have always played against Barcelona. We know that they are a very good opponent, but we are also aware of our objective, which is to qualify,” said Diego Simeone, according to sportal.bg.
On the fact that the match is being played at the Metropolitano, where Atletico have a clear advantage: “Everything we imagine in advance can turn out to be just imagination. When the match starts, everything we thought can be put on the back burner. In the last game, they came out with a more advanced line. So we need confidence and certainty in what we want, and that is to continue.”
Simeone declined to comment on refereeing, which is often a main topic of analysis: “I think about the team, I don't think about the referees. They are already under tremendous pressure, I don't think about them.” Simeone also refused to reveal whether Jan Oblak will return in goal.
Asked what goes through his head before the duel at the Metropolitano, Simeone answered with a smile: “Tomorrow, before the warm-up, something will come to my mind.”
