Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone admits he was ‘impressed’ by Celtic’s ‘speed and dynamism’ during Wednesday’s thrilling 2-2 Champions League draw at Parkhead.
There were shades of that Real Madrid clash a year ago as Alvaro Morata brilliantly converted a gorgeous Marcos Llorente cross shortly after half-time. Like their city rivals, Atletico had been outplayed throughout the first 45 in Glasgow – Celtic dominating the game and dancing around their much-vaunted opposition – before sinking a dagger into Hoops’ hearts with a goal of genuine, world-class quality.
But while Celtic had nothing to show for that fabulous display against Real – a 3-0 scoreline hardly reflective of their performance – a hard-fought and well-deserved point against Atletico felt like a major step forward for a club who have flattered to deceive in Europe over the last decade, Morata’s goal cancelling out finishes from Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma but no more.
Celtic earn Atletico Madrid draw
“As I expected, (Celtic) started the game really well,” Simeone says, via The Herald. “We really struggled to contain them, and their first attack resulted in a goal. In the first half we didn’t play the way I wanted us to.
“I always like to focus on the positives, which for me as the second half. In the first half, we didn’t have the speed that the game required. We weren’t up to scratch, and they combined well in our half and scored a couple of goals. In the second half, the substitutes made a really big impact.”
Celtic took a lead after just three minutes on the night. Kyogo playing a sublime one-two with the masterful Matt O’Riley before dinking over Jan Oblak.
First Champions League point
“Our opposition played well. They were at home, they got off to a great start,” Simeone adds. We need to increase the time we are playing at the level we were in the first half. But we responded well and that is what we have to see if we are going to compete in the Champions League.
“Our opposition played well in the first-half and we played extremely well in the second-half. I wasn’t surprised at all. I saw how well they played against Feyenoord and Lazio.
“In the second half they ran out of ideas a bit. But I was impressed with their speed and dynamism and their ability to move the ball forward at pace and create chances.”
This was Celtic’s first point of the group stage. Champions League knockout stage football in the spring may be unlikely, but there is still a Europa League spot up for grabs.
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