The police needed to intervene after the poor finish of Atletico Madrid’s 0-0 draw with Manchester Metropolis within the Champions League quarter-final second leg, which changed into a confrontation after the match within the tunnel.
Metropolis meet Actual Madrid within the semi-finals after falling behind in a late rise from Atletico, who improved tremendously within the second half on the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday to steer 1-0 on mixture.
Tensions have been exacerbated within the 91st minute when Atletico defender Felipe was despatched off for a problem on Phil Foden, sparking a scuffle that continued within the tunnel after the complete time whistle.
Dawson: Man Metropolis stood tall whereas Atleti tried to bully them
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Tv footage confirmed Stefan Savic attempting to confront Jack Grealish, after he was beforehand pictured pulling the Metropolis participant’s hair within the melee after Felipe’s crimson card. The Atletico teaching workers needed to restrain substitute Sime Vrsaljko and cease goalkeeper Ederson Kyle Walker earlier than cops intervened to revive order.
“The match could make you offended like that, while you put them beneath stress and create possibilities, they usually fall again and waste time,” Atletico captain Koke mentioned when requested in regards to the crimson card and the following brawl. “It is soccer. We are sometimes criticized for that, let’s have a look at what individuals give it some thought at this time.”
Atletico gamers have been enraged by what they felt have been Metropolis’s makes an attempt to beat the clock as they maintained a 1-0 lead within the first leg.
“In a tense match like this, it may possibly occur,” mentioned Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak. “Folks got here off the bench, there’s plenty of nerves, it is regular to have stress and a few unhealthy phrases. What occurs within the match, it stays there. That was good for Metropolis, they wasted a while.”
Nonetheless, Metropolis defender Aymeric Laporte responded, “The one who was losing time was their crew, they usually received into ridiculous fights.
“We already understand how they’re they usually at all times do the identical. It is at all times ugly to see these fights, a lot fuss occurring with so little. I feel it was unhealthy for them as a result of they have been at their greatest second within the sport.”
Pep Guardiola refused to reply questions on losing time, however Metropolis midfielder Rodri admitted there are occasions when it’s obligatory.
“Once you’re locked within the again and when you may have 5 to 10 minutes left, we now have to play with different weapons,” Rodri mentioned.
“I am not in favor of doing that all through the sport, however on events. What stays on the sphere stays there. It is a sport with plenty of stress and I do not actually know what occurred to Felipe, but it surely’s not enjoyable.”
Each Oblak and coach Diego Simeone mentioned they didn’t see what occurred within the tunnel, as they remained outdoors the sphere after the match to thank the Atletico followers for his or her help.
“I did not see it. I used to be with the gamers and greeting the followers,” Simeone mentioned in a press convention after the match. After I went up the steps [in the tunnel]There was nobody there.”
Simeone denied he drew mock applause on the Metropolis bench and on his counterpart Guardiola in further time – saying: “I did not pay tribute to the opponent’s seats, I applauded our followers” – however nonetheless appeared aggravated by Guardiola’s feedback about Atletico’s defence. Ways after the primary leg.
“Folks with a big vocabulary are sometimes very sensible, they usually handle to reward you with disrespect,” Simeone mentioned. “However these of us who most likely have a smaller vocabulary, we’re not that silly.
“Soccer has many sides. I cannot give my opinion on the way in which the opponent behaves. We are going to concentrate on us, play possibly in opposition to the very best crew on the earth and know that we are able to compete. However that doesn’t make me joyful, the one factor that makes me joyful is the victory.”
