Simeone: ‘Milan superior to Atleti until red card’

Diego Simeone admits Milan ‘were superior to us, that is beyond doubt’ until the red card changed the game, then Atletico Madrid ‘went for it with everything we had.’

The Rossoneri were dominant and took the lead through Rafael Leao, also rattling the woodwork, but Franck Kessie’s harsh second yellow on 29 minutes transformed the encounter at San Siro.

Ultimately, Atleti barely had a shot on target until Antoine Griezmann’s 84th-minute equaliser and the very controversial stoppage-time Luis Suarez penalty.

“Let’s start from the beginning. Milan were superior to us, played a very fast, dynamic style of football, which we already saw them play against Liverpool,” Simeone told Sport Mediaset.

“Naturally, after the red card, they started to cede some territory and we started to get into a game that we hadn’t even started.

“After the break, we came out hungry, trying to break through a team that was well-organised. We really needed this victory.”

Simeone was asked if the referee had influenced the game, for example with Kessie’s red card and the extremely contentious penalty.

Geoffrey Kondogbia was substituted before half-time, as he was booked for a shove and seemed irritable, but the coach insists that is not why he was hauled off.

“I was already going to substitute Kondogbia. I admit when it was 11 against 11, Milan were better, that is beyond doubt.

“We played the second half by going for it with everything we had.”