Diego Simeone makes Arsenal and Barcelona claim after Atletico Madrid defeat

Diego Simeone hailed Arsenal as the ‘best team’ Atletico Madrid have faced this season after his side’s deflating Champions League semi-final defeat.

Simeone took his Atletico side to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night hoping to reach the club’s first Champions League final since 2016.

The first leg ended 1-1 and another cagey game in north London was settled by Bukayo Saka’s first-half goal.

Arsenal have not only booked their place in a first Champions League final in 20 years but are closing in on the Premier League title, boasting a five-point lead over Manchester City.

Simeone said Arsenal were worthy winners of the first semi-final tie and described Mikel Arteta’s team as the best he has faced this season despite meeting La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid on multiple 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.

‘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.’

Discussing Gunners boss Arteta in his post-match press conference, Simeone added: ‘I think Mikel has done an incredible job at Arsenal.

‘He’s been trying to get to this point for a long time, to reach the Champions League and to win the league.

‘They have incredible financial power, and that’s linked to what they’re doing, I’m really pleased for them. They deserve it. They’ve been working very hard for many years.’

Simeone also hailed Arsenal as the best team Atletico Madrid have come up against after losing to the Gunners in the group stages of the Champions League.

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, meanwhile, also admitted that Arsenal ‘deserved’ to advance to the Champions League final, where they will face Bayern Munich or holders PSG.

‘Whoever wins is always the best team,’ he said. ‘They won it and congratulations to them. Of course, we are sad and angry but that’s football.

‘The second half was good. Maybe we showed them a little bit too much respect in the first and were afraid to play. It was good after that but not enough to progress to the final.

‘It’s unlucky for us and we’re upset but it’s life. Arsenal were better and they’re in the final.’

PSG have a narrow one-goal advantage over Bayern Munich ahead of their semi-final second leg after sealing a thrilling 5-4 win in Paris last week.

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