Diego Simeone refuses to blame referee as Atlético exit Champions League

Diego Simeone declines to use penalty controversy as excuse
Atlético Madrid knocked out by Arsenal 2-1 on aggregate
Argentine coach expresses pride despite another trophyless European campaign

Diego Simeone refused to blame refereeing decisions for Atlético Madrid’s Champions League semifinal exit following their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

A controversial moment came in the second half when Atlético appealed for a penalty after Antoine Griezmann went down under a challenge from Riccardo Calafiori. However, referee Daniel Siebert instead awarded a free kick to Arsenal for a prior foul.

Despite acknowledging the incident, Simeone refused to dwell on it after Bukayo Saka’s first-half goal secured Arsenal a 2-1 aggregate victory and a place in the final.

“I won’t focus on something simple like the Griezmann incident,” Simeone said. “It would be an excuse, and I don’t want to make excuses.”

The Atlético boss said he felt a sense of pride in his team’s efforts across the two legs, emphasizing their progress despite falling short.

“We got to a place nobody imagined, competing with a team with incredible power,” he said. “I feel proud. We said we would compete, and we did.”

Atlético’s European run included eliminating FC Barcelona in the quarterfinals, but their season will end without silverware after also missing out domestically.

Simeone acknowledged expectations remain high at the club despite their progress.

“We’ve grown enormously and we’re recognised across Europe,” he said. “But the fans want to win. Getting to a semifinal isn’t enough.”

Arsenal will now face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final in Budapest as Atlético are left to reflect on another near miss.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.