Diego Simeone, the Argentine coach of Atletico Madrid, expressed his dissatisfaction with the defeat against Real Madrid, praising his players' character in competing and coming back after an early goal. He confirmed that the match is still open before the return leg at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

Simeone said in his post-match statements: "The result is not good; we wanted to win or draw the match, but we did not succeed. We performed well, but the small details decided the match in their favor."

Regarding the changes he made in the final minutes, he explained: "We played throughout the match defending our position, and in the end, we tried to continue in the same manner. With the entry of Ruben, we looked for a player to compensate for the absence of Llorente and Molina; we nearly conceded a third goal in the last moments of the match due to a dangerous counterattack."

The Argentine coach expressed his confidence in his team's ability to turn things around in the return leg, stating: "I feel that the team competed well, and we could have dealt with the two goals better. Now we need to focus on the Getafe match, and then we will think about the return match. We will play at home with the support of our fans, which will make it an important encounter."

Simeone emphasized the importance of fan support, pointing out its significant impact on the team's performance, saying: "The Metropolitano stadium is always a motivation for us; our fans push us forward, giving us extra energy and alleviating the players' struggles during the match. Now we will focus on the next game, and when the time for the return match comes, our fans will be there to support us."

The Atletico Madrid coach talked about the mistakes that cost his team the loss, saying: "Their goals were decisive, and we could have dealt with them better. Such small details make the difference in matches at this level, and they are what tilted the match in their favor at this stage."

Simeone explained that Atletico Madrid had a good match but lacked some aspects, saying: "We controlled the game well and responded strongly after the early first goal we conceded. The scenario could have been different, but we adhered to the plan and delivered the performance we wanted. We went into halftime feeling good and started the second half in the same rhythm. After their second goal, we had to either take risks and concede a third goal or continue competing cautiously."

Simeone revealed which goal affected his team the most, saying: "The second goal was the hardest because it came at a moment when we were controlling better, and we felt we were in a good position. As for the first goal, it was very quick and came unexpectedly."

He stressed the importance of improving in exploiting opportunities, saying: "We had to take better advantage of periods of ball control. Real Madrid improved when Vinicius and Mbappe dropped back to support the counterattacks, and it was hard for us to take risks without exposing ourselves to dangerous attacks. We lacked some clarity in the final touch."

The Argentine coach pointed out the impact of the mental factor on the course of the match, saying: "This is natural; it can happen. They had a clear advantage after the second goal, which gave them an extra boost, but we competed well. There is still a chance to compensate."