Diego Simeone also began to applaud how Atletico Madrid fans reacted. There was still time to play in the rematch of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday against Manchester City on Metropolitano, the extra nine minutes have not yet expired and there will be even more than it turned out.
The Atletico manager later explained that his applause was for the fans who built a wall of noise during the draw, a lightning-fast backdrop on a high-stakes occasion. But why did he go so early with this?
Maybe he realized that the game is up, 0-0 is impenetrable, City will certainly move forward thanks to the goal of Kevin De Bruyne in the first game. And so he looked a bit like a manager shaking hands with the opposite number before the last referee signal; a gesture of sportsmanship, something to create a moment.
Did Simeone really think it was over? Or was it a trick to create energy for one last boost that Atletico managed? In the 13th minute of added time, the substitute Angel Correa unloaded for a goal and was denied a clever save by Ederson. Atletico was so close.
But the longer Simeone continued to applaud and the crowd followed, the more the alternative reading presented itself. Like everyone in red and white, Simeone was frustrated by his team’s inability to take advantage of his dominance in the second half and angry at City’s attempts to waste time – game play, convulsions, the need for treatment.
There was a sardonic underwater current. Congratulations on winning this way. As Atletico can do. Shouldn’t City be better, cleaner?
Simeone would deny it. Just as Pep Guardiola denied and will continue to deny that he criticized Simeone and Atletico after the first match. The City manager said that “from prehistory” it was difficult to face a team that defends deeply with two lines of five.
Many in Madrid have interpreted this as digging, but Guardiola says he simply praises Atletico as a master of the approach. Smiling or applauding as you strike low; kills with kindness. This was the topic of the meeting between the champions of Spain and England.
Diego Simeone is trying to reveal his feelings to the Manchester City players. Photo: Lee Smith / Action Images / Reuters
The third reading of Simeone’s behavior in the sequel was the least likely. Was he reluctant to admire City? You finally learned how to close a result. Guardiola has been chosen as the magpie in recent days. He played as Liverpool against Liverpool in the 2-2 Premier League match on Sunday, using fast and long balls on the channels. Now he had played as Atletico against Atletico.
“I’m trying to imitate the best teams and learn,” Guardiola said after the game against Liverpool with such sincerity that it seemed to be sarcastic. This is the tone that so irritates some of his rivals, including Simeone.
“Often those who are very eloquent are very intelligent and have a way of praising you contemptuously,” Simeone said after Wednesday’s draw. “But those of us who may have less eloquence are not stupid.”
No matter how you cut it, Guardiola and City had come under the skin of Simeone and Atletico. From one level, it was fun to hear Atletico whine about the use of the dark arts of the City, the last word in pots and teapots. But more seriously, City had found a way to pass one of football’s biggest challenges – to move to the Metropolitano – and it was a new way for them to tie them even tighter, especially after the mass brawl that erupted in 89th minute.
There was a sweetness in the second half of the rearguard action, in the suffering that was encapsulated by Phil Foden. The striker was beaten and bloodied, his head was bandaged in the 12th minute after he was cleared in an air challenge by Felipe. But he refused to be afraid.
Phil Foden finds himself on the grass while developing another set at Wanda Metropolitano. Photo: Oscar del Pozo / AFP / Getty Images
“Incredible racing mentality,” said Rodri of City. “We have grown a lot in this regard in recent years. We have to keep improving, because we will experience such moments in the next matches. We must have a strong mentality, be together and never give up. “
City misrepresentation remained. Play as you did in the second half and they will most likely play against Real Madrid in the semi-finals. It was strange to see that City could not make any moves forward; much of it was aside or passing by itself. When Atletico jumped into the press, City could not see the space. They were suffocated, barely halfway through.
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City suffered concomitant injuries, injuries to De Bruyne and Kyle Walker. The schedule remains tight and crossing the distance with an opponent like Atletico, along with the requirements for travel to and from Madrid, is hardly the perfect preparation for another meeting with Liverpool on Saturday – in the semifinals of the FA Cup at Wembley. It was no loss to anyone in the City that Liverpool managed to give the players a break in their home rematch of the Champions League quarter-finals against Benfica on Wednesday, which was much smoother for them.
But City are in their third Champions League semi-final, one step closer to the holy grail of their first triumph. The hope is that the thrill of it and the way they did it can overcome the overwhelmed bodies and minds.
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