At the end of the Champions League match, Madrid Atlético defeated the German club RB Leipzig (2:1). Benyamin Sheshko opened the scoring for the guests in the opening match. The hero of the match was the famous forward Antoine Griezmann, who scored a goal and provided an assist. Jose Maria Jimenez scored the winning goal in the 90th minute.
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Diego Simeonehead coach of Atlético: “We controlled 80 percent of the game. We couldn’t stop the counterattack that brought them a goal. They counterattacked very well, but from that moment we stopped them. We played more in their half of the field, won several corners and had 4 excellent scoring opportunities, but the goal was never scored. In the end, it was a good return from Julián Alvarez in midfield and a good counter attack from Llorente and Griezmann that allowed us to equalise.
Player of the match Griezmann? We need him like that. Since I came here, he has always been a player who can make a difference for us and when he plays well, different things happen.
We started the game with Griezmann on the left and Correa on the right with Julián Alvarez; each in his natural position to attack on the outside and create a rhombus with Rodrigo Riquelme and Koke. As the game progressed we switched to a 5–3–2 with Griezmann a bit more inside and Correa a bit more on the right as a striker. I liked it. We had situations where we could create danger.
Replacements? The exit of Conor Gallagher, Lyno, Serlott and Molina gave us new energy in the latter stages and we continued to create chances. Then, thank God, Jose Mario Jimenez scored a goal at the end, which he deserved, having played an excellent game.
“Leipzig counterattacked very well, but we controlled their attacks very well. We tried to attack in different ways. We had three or four chances to score, but we didn’t do it. In the end, a great goal by Jimenez gave us the victory. The whole team did a good job, and those who came off the bench played very well.”
Antoine Griezmann, “Atlético” scorer: “It was very painful for us to miss. This is the first goal scored by them, we talked about it in the dressing room. But we had enough composure to break the score and eventually win the game.
We knew they could press very well with four players up top, but with turnovers and quick passes down the flanks, we could get two against one and the goal came from that. A pass to Marcos Llorente on the wing, and he made a very good pass. Then, at the end of the game, nobody cares about tactics because you just want to win. And the one who wants it more becomes closer to it.”
Jose Maria Jimenez, the author of the winning goal of Atlético: “We started with a mistake in defense. We knew that they could counterattack, and it was on the counterattack that they scored a goal. But the team did not stop fighting and believing.”
Cokecaptain of Atlético: “The ball didn’t want to go into the goal in the first half, but in the end we managed to score three points in a format in which only victories count.”
Arthur Vermeeren, RB Leipzig linebacker: “It is in the DNA of the Leipzig team to play good football, to be bold in formation, to control the ball, to play with great pressure and intensity, and we did well. But in the end it turned out to be not enough, which is unfortunate. You can learn a lot from such a game. We are a young team with young players, and these are the moments from which we need to learn lessons, and in the next game we must win.”
Marco Rosecoach of Leipzig: “We had five players aged 21 or younger, and after the goal we made one or two simple mistakes. After that, we lost confidence in our game against an Atlético team with a lot of experience and in a stadium with such fans. In the second half we regained control. But we didn’t use our chances in the first half. That’s what we lacked.
With our four defenders, we surprised Atlético, and we could take advantage of the spaces that are not always available against opponents who defend with great intensity and are very strong one-on-one. If we were more clear in our style, we could have more chances.
We are in the Champions League, and at this level, details decide the game. There were situations that we didn’t take full advantage of, and then we conceded twice, the second time at the end when they pressed hard. We had to use the open spaces more and be more confident – especially after the score was 1:0.
The game of the young midfielder Vermeeren? He wants to win the ball and sees where there is space. Not everything turned out – it was not only him, but also other players. It was a solid game on his part.”
Source: sport.ua