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The boss Diego Simeone: Real Madrid 'were better than us again'

The boss Diego Simeone: Real Madrid 'were better than us again'

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Diego Simeone congratulated Real Madrid on a deserved victory but would not confirm if he would stay on as Atletico Madrid coach after a second crushing Champions League final defeat to Los Blancos in three years.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos headed his team ahead as reward for their first-half dominance, Atletico attacker Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty soon after the break, but substitute Yannick Carrasco equalised late on to send the game to extra-time.
The extra 30 minutes brought no more goals, and after Atletico right-back Juanfran Torres missed from the spot, Cristiano Ronaldo converted Madrid's fifth spot kick to confirm that Simeone's side had lost out just as they had when beaten 4-1 in extra-time two years ago in Lisbon.
At his postgame news conference at Milan's San Siro stadium, Simeone said he had no excuses or complaints about the result.
"First I want to congratulate Madrid -- they were better than us again, this time in the penalty shootout," Simeone said.
"We began the game badly, got better after about 25 minutes. We had a chance to equalise quickly in second half, but we did not do take advantage of it. They had a chance for 2-0, but we equalised almost immediately afterwards. Then the game became very tactical, very draining, and the two teams were pretty tired.
"Today was not meant to be for us. There is no such thing as justice in football. Whoever wins deserves to win. There are no excuses."
Simeone said he could not fault the effort this players had put in during the game, only to come up short once more.
"I am proud of my players," he said. "They made an extraordinary effort, in a very difficult Champions League for us. To go 1-0 down, miss a penalty, come back and equalise.
"I love these players a lot, they give the most they have in each ball -- Gabi, Koke, Diego Godin, Filipe Luis, the effort they put in was tremendous. Griezmann came back after missing the penalty. I told them not to cry, out on the pitch after the game."
Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone again brought Atletico Madrid into extra time in the Champions League final, only to lose to Real Madrid.
Real Madrid beat Atletico on penalties to win Champions League

Real Madrid beat Atletico on penalties to win Champions League

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Real Madrid earned Europe's biggest club trophy for a record 11th time by defeating Atletico Madrid 5-3 on penalties, as the Champions League final finished 1-1 after extra-time on Saturday.
Sergio Ramos' first-half goal was cancelled out by Yannick Carrasco in the 79th minute, but neither team could find a winner in 120 minutes.
In the shootout, Atletico's Juanfran hit the post and Cristiano Ronaldo delivered the clinching penalty for Real to secure their second Champions League title in three years, and their fifth since 1998.
Real were in control early, when Gareth Bale earned a free kick on the side of the box in the sixth minute.                              

The Welshman played the ball into the six-yard box, where Karim Benzema and Casemiro converged to redirect the ball on target, but Jan Oblak made a point-blank save.
The play was physical from the start, though English referee Mark Clattenburg kept his cards in his pocket until Dani Carvajal forced his hand with a late tackle on Antoine Griezmann in the 11th minute.
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