The Rojiblancos managed to snatch a narrow win as they eliminated the Red Devils from the European competition.
Atletico Madrid defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Tuesday.
A 2-1 victory on aggregate saw Diego Simeone’s side secure a spot in the quarter-finals while United crashed out of the competition.
Atletico did what everyone expected them to do and still managed to execute their smash and grab plan perfectly. A first-half header from Renan Lodi was enough for the Spanish champions to beat United, who displayed an uninspiring attacking performance.
Speaking to AS after the game, Simeone revealed how United’s vulnerability on the counter-attacks provided his side with enough goalscoring chances to win the tie.
“Manchester [United] has competed well since their coach arrived and has improved a lot. We found them a team very tough, very difficult.
“They said in the previous match that we didn’t like the ball, we found attacking situations to be more forceful.”
Simeone added: “I’m excited to see a team that has no shame. At the start of the game I saw that in any counter attack, we could hurt [them]. We have a brilliant collective, it leaves me with joy.
“It was not only a general effort. I want to make it clear that the team knew what they had to do. [Man Utd] have great individuals, they started very well but it was a little messy to create pressure at the start.
“We knew we could play with spaces. We suffered and once again we are among the best eight in Europe, and this is extraordinary for the club after winning La Liga.”
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