By our reporter 13.4.2026
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone refused to be dragged into discussions about referees ahead of Tuesday’s second leg Champions League clash against Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The first leg at the Nou Camp was marred by controversial officiating that saw a penalty denied Barcelona who also had a man sent off.
“I’m thinking about my team, not the referees,” Simeone stated.
“They have a very difficult match ahead of them. With every match that brings us closer to the final, the pressure mounts, becomes extreme, because the stakes keep rising. Honestly, I’m not thinking about them.”
Barcelona need to overturn a 2-0 deficit to stand a chance of advancing to the semi-final, but according to Simeone his team will defend their advantage to the last.
“We are convinced of what we need and what we are going after. We have to play the way we have been competing against them; we know they are a very good opponent, but we also know our objective, which is to advance,” he explained.