Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was uncharacteristically sanguine after losing to Liverpool, with his side going down 2-1 in the Champions League at Anfield
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone during his post-match press conference at Anfield.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone during his post-match press conference at Anfield.(Image: Jan Kruger - UEFA via Getty Images)
Diego Simeone was pleased with the performance his Atletico Madrid side in the Champions League, even though it lost 2-1 against Liverpool on matchday one.
Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister gave Andoni Iraola the win over the Spanish outfit to kick off his European campaign, but Simeone — not normally one to hold back — admitted that there were positives he could take from the game.
Last weekend, Atletico Madrid was hammered by Athletic Club in La Liga. It has had a mixed start to the new season and was disrupted by Julian Alvarez wanting to leave for Barcelona.
Simeone said he was happy that he brought Alvarez in against Liverpool, though, because he performed well, and insisted that even though his team made costly errors at the back, that is normal at this stage.
"I'm leaving the match happy," Simeone said. "The players gave their all. They gave everything. They played a great first half, and in the second half, the opposition found the goal.
"We looked for alternatives, but we lacked the clarity to attack like we did in the first half. We lost to an opponent who was clinical and knew how to take advantage of their chances."
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Diego Simeone, Manager of Atletico Madrid, looks on before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 09, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Diego Simeone looks on before the Champions League match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on September 09, 2026(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Marcos Llorente, who now has six goals in six games against Liverpool during his career, opened the scoring but the Reds were able to turn things around.
Mac Allister, in particular, was sensational for Iraola's side, driving forward from midfield. Bradley Barcola also made his first start, before going off with cramp in the second half.
"It was a good comeback," Mac Allister said on TNT Sports. "I think the first half was really good.
"We conceded a goal because we were not ready, and we did not defend well, other than it was a good first half.
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"The beginning of the second half was really good. We managed to score the second goal, which is good.
"Overall, it was a good performance. Now we have to think about the next one.
"Before the game we spoke about the beginning of the first half and second half. I liked the mentality. I think we showed desire today. We got the fans behind us and that's really important when you play at Anfield. A positive step for us."
Liverpool.com says: Atletico Madrid has a lot of quality, but as Simeone admitted, it didn't create that much. The Reds did well to control things to the level that they did, and deservedly got the win over the line.