Diego Simeone has praised Arsenal as the “best team” Atletico Madrid have encountered this season following their disappointing exit from the Champions League semi-finals.
Atletico travelled to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday needing a strong result after the first leg ended 1-1, but Bukayo Saka’s first-half strike proved decisive as Arsenal edged the contest to reach the final.
The victory sends Mikel Arteta’s side into their first Champions League final in 20 years, while they also maintain a five-point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
Simeone admitted Arsenal fully deserved their progression and went as far as naming them the strongest opposition his side have faced this campaign, despite Atletico also locking horns with Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid on several occasions.
Asked whether Atletico were unlucky not to reach the final, which will be held on May 30 in Budapest, Simeone said, “Well if we got knocked out it’s because our opponents deserved to get through,” Simeone was quoted on Metro.
“They took their big chance in the first-half and they deserved to get through. I feel calm, I feel peaceful.
“We weren’t clinical enough with the situations we were in. We improved in the second-half. There were things that could’ve gone our way but they didn’t.
“We gave it our all and now we have to accept the place that we are in. Thanks to our supporters and players I feel proud to be where we are right now.
“I said we wanted to compete and we have done that. Unfortunately we haven’t won anything but we have got to places that are hard to get to.
“Arsenal were the better team over these two legs, they are the best team we have faced this season. They play with a rhythm and a conviction that is very difficult to contain.”
