Pep Guardiola claimed that he had never criticised Atlético Madrid’s style, after a tense, edgy night which ended with Manchester City hanging on to a one-goal lead to reach the Champions League semi‑finals and a fight in the tunnel. But Diego Simeone, the Atlético manager, did not appear to be buying Guardiola’s explanation, insisting: “We’re not stupid.”
Koke Resurrección, Atlético’s captain, accused City of “falling on the floor and wasting time”, just as Atlético had been accused of doing, something that was admitted afterwards by the midfielder Rodri, who noted “everything’s licit in football” but insisted it was only the case in the final “five to 10 minutes”.
