Diego Simeone has denied sarcastically applauding Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City bench before tempers flared in Madrid.
Atletico Madrid were unable to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against the English champions at the Wanda Metropolitano. The game ended in unsavoury scenes as players from both teams were involved in a mass brawl, which eventually saw a huge clash in the tunnel.
Simeone, who was booked late on, spent the latter minutes applauding in an attempt to whip up the home crowd. He has denied that his gesture was directed sarcastically at his opponent. He said: "I didn't go to Pep's bench. I applauded the people, who were appraising the team's effort. The people were very involved.
"When you talk too much, you end up undressed. At no time did I applaud the rival bench, I applauded our people, those on one side, those on the other... It seemed fair to me to applaud something that was seen and noticed in the game, that The footballers were giving the people what they wanted, beyond the fact that we couldn't give the pass, which is what they were looking for".
Guardiola was under no illusion of the task that faced his side as they eyed a second successive last four appearance. The City boss claimed they had to "suffer" as they held out and their composure was tested but was full of praise for his players.
He said: “In this stadium in this competition it is always difficult. It is a big compliment for the players. We cannot expect every time to make everything marvellous. We have to suffer. I am proud because the opponent was really good. We tried to take the ball but were not able. With the people and chances, they had they could have scored a goal."
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Atletico finished with ten men as Felipe was given his marching orders following two yellow cards. John Stones knew the hostilities that would be facing the City XI but hailed his teammates for handling what was thrown their way.
He said after the match: "We know sometimes they try and make things like that happen, we dealt with it really well. It's not nice to talk about it. Over two legs we played incredibly against an experienced team in what they do. I'm so proud of the lads how we kept our control, our tempers. It's easy to get drawn into things.
"We're happy to be through and it's a great night. We knew it's not an easy place to come, a hostile environment. The boys who've been here before and played against some of their players, it was a difficult night all round. How we defended and controlled ourselves was incredible."
