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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Diego Simeone hits back at 'lucky' Liverpool critics in fresh Champions League claim

Diego Simeone has once again hit back at those who consider Atletico Madrid's Champions League win over Liverpool as being "lucky".

The Reds lost their grip on the European Cup when they were beaten 4-2 on aggregate by the La Liga side in the round of 16 in March.

Jurgen Klopp's side, having lost the first leg 1-0 in Spain, dominated in the return and went 2-0 ahead in extra time after Roberto Firmino added to a first-half strike from Gini Wijnaldum.

However, a mistake by stand-in goalkeeper Adrian gifted a chance for a precious away goal shortly afterwards with Atletico then taking advantage of Liverpool's need to press forward by scoring a further two goals.

And Simeone has dismissed any suggestions his team were the beneficiaries of good fortune on the night.

"Football is like boxing because you have to know when it is time to attack," he said, speaking to AS in Spain.

"At Atletico, we know the virtues we have as a team.

"The example is when we played against Liverpool, a tremendous team, we knew that we could hurt him.

"When they talk about how we were lucky, I think of a team that lost 2-0 and scored three goals.

"That is not luck. The games must be valued as a whole."

In stopping Liverpool from claiming a seventh European Cup, Atletico have given themselves a chance of winning their first after losing in their previous three final appearances.

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