Atletico Madrid reached the Round of 16 in the Champions League with a 4-1 win over Club Brugge on Tuesday night, a result that may have been a little deceptive in terms of the feel of the tie. However, Diego Simeone was more than satisfied with his team after the game, looking comfortable on the touchline afterwards.
Simeone is delighted that his side have progressed to the next round, calling it important for the club’s growth, with President Enrique Cerezo saying before the game that they are responsible for victory. Diario AS note that the win cost Atletico €12m in Champions League prize money. Speaking after the game, Simeone explained how he felt.
“I am very happy. There is a lot of work with these results, which is starting to be more good than bad. We have many new players last season and many more this season. Rebuilding is not easy, and when you see the determination and confidence of the substitute players when they come out, it really moves me.”
“I’m a football man, and when I see that commitment to the idea, to what we’re aiming for, I feel very connected. I’m grateful for the team’s work. In the first half, we faced a very good opponent, I’m not exaggerating. They pressed us, they took time. In the second half, we played a very good game.”
Simeone reveals the burning question of the break for the players
When Atletico opened the scoring at the Metropolitano through Alexander Sorloth, Club Brugge could claim to be the better team going into the break. Simeone revealed that he had asked his side during a team talk.
“The feeling I saw. They were attacking to win, and we, I don’t know why we were attacking, we were just there to be around them. That’s what we were talking about: we had to increase the intensity of our pressure, be more decisive in our attack. After Johnny’s goal, which opened the door for us, and it was easy to leave Lookman’mannez… he’s been playing well recently, you have to make decisions, and I’m happy to see that the arrivals act in a way that supports the philosophy of the team, it was not an easy decision.
🇳🇴🤣 Reporter: “He scored three goals but at the end he looks very unhappy.”
Alexander Sørloth: “I score a goal and I’m very happy, but I’m Norwegian and I don’t have many emotions.” pic.twitter.com/3E6IVcc9Df
– Atlético Universe (@atletiuniverse) February 24, 2026
Simeone on Sorloth hat-trick
The star of the show was Sorloth, who scored a superb goal, which was Atletico’s first in this competition for many years. The Norwegian was handed a start to Ademola Lookman.
“I felt he was in form, that one day when we played against Club Brugge he came and gave the team what they needed, because he is different from the others. When you have a strong player who takes the ball out from the back and stretches the team when we can’t find a way to pass. He did very well in Bruges, against Espanyol, and today he did that again.”
The other side of the coin is Julian Alvarez, who was withdrawn before the hour mark after another brilliant performance.
“The same thing happened with Griezmann last season. I continued to play him, but he failed. These are the decisions I accept, and I believe in players like him. Both Griezmann and Julian today… Alex has something that no one else has, and if he is in form, if he is there and participates, like he was in the first leg in those 20 minutes, he is back to the level we need for us.”
Atletico Madrid will face Real Oviedo on Saturday night in Asturias, before visiting Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi final against Barcelona. Arguably the biggest game in their remaining calendar this season, Los Colchoneros are heavy favorites to progress after a 4-0 first leg win.
