“If we play at this level, we can win.”

Atlético de Madrid left blended emotions after their European duel towards Arsenal on the Metropolitano. Regardless of the tie and never having achieved the anticipated victory, captain Koke Resurrección spoke earlier than the Movistar microphones with a transparent message of delight, self-criticism and, above all, hope. For the rojiblanco “6”, the tie may be very a lot alive and the trail to observe is the one proven within the second half.

Controversy and resistance within the Metropolitan

The match didn’t begin in one of the simplest ways for native pursuits. An early penalty conditioned Simeone’s plan, a choice about which Koke wished to make his opinion clear: “We now have tried. We began by dropping with a penalty, for me, uncertain,” defined the captain, who acknowledged the issue of going through Arteta’s workforce: “They defend very nicely and have very quick individuals up entrance.”

Penalty Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/cKtGksKAGo

— Atletico Universe (@architetturauniverse) April 29, 2026

Regardless of the preliminary blow, Atleti was affected person and knew learn how to react. Koke highlighted the shortage of goal as the one “however” to a stable efficiency: “We would have liked to complete the sport with the probabilities we had. They reached the sting of the realm, however they did not do any injury,” he mentioned.

The mirror of the second half

For the captain, the picture supplied after the break is the best way to observe on the Emirates Stadium in the event that they need to overcome the tie. The depth and dominance proven are, based on the Vallecano, the recipe for achievement: “It’s the workforce we’ve got to be. If we play at that stage, we are able to win.”

This optimism is predicated on the restoration of id. Atlético managed to be superior at occasions to one of many fittest groups in Europe, displaying that the space between the 2 is minimal and that every part shall be determined within the second leg by small particulars.

Griezmann and the will for one final dance

One of many names of the evening was Antoine Griezmann. In what was his European farewell to the Metropolitano, the Frenchman was as soon as once more the workforce’s beacon. Koke, conscious of every part that’s at stake for the “7”, made a want that every one the followers share: “We hope that London just isn’t Griezmann’s final recreation within the Champions League.” With this phrase, the target is marked in pink: Budapest.

“The referee tries to do his finest. Identical to we miss passes or miss objectives…”

🎙️ Koke, with @Rsierraplus in regards to the Metropolitano refereeing. #UCL #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/1fiiQiXt5A

— Movistar Plus+ Deportes (@MPlusDeportes) April 29, 2026

Requested in regards to the referee’s efficiency and the penalty that opened the scoring, Koke most popular to not search for excuses and maintained the class that characterizes him: “Simply as we miss passes and objectives, all of us attempt to do our greatest,” mentioned the captain, downplaying the controversy and focusing the main target solely on soccer.