Madrid, May 18 (IANS) Atletico Madrid coach Diego Pablo Simeone was emotional after leading his side to the club’s 10th Spanish Cup football title in their history.
Not only did Atletico defeat neighbours Real Madrid in Real’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium but they did it after coming back from a goal down and after 14 years without having beaten Real Madrid in any kind of game here Friday night, the Xinhua reported.
“You think about your family in moments like this. They are a long way away, watching the game with friends in a room painted in Atletico colours and very emotional at what has happened,” said Simeone, whose side had some narrow escapes as Real hit the post three times.
“We had winners’ luck, but what these players have done in the year and a half since I arrived has no words to describe,” said Simeone, who has also taken Atletico to the Europa League and European Supercup titles.
One of the Atletico heroes was goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made two stunning injury time saves to retain his side’s lead.
“I am very happy. We had a bit of luck with their shots against the post but we played well. I made two good saves and I am very happy. I have had a bit of criticism in games against Real Madrid but today is a great day,” said Courtois, while Atletico midfielder Koke was also delighted after his side finally ended their 14-year wait in the best possible way.
“The fans have waited for 14 long years, we have played with the hearts of all of our fans behind us and we deserve to win,” he said.
Meanwhile Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho, was sent off for protests against referee Clos Gomez in the second half.
Real have failed to win more than the Spanish Supercup, while missing out in the Champions League, Primera Liga and now the Cup.
“This is the worst season of my life. I have won just one title, which is not enough for me or a club like Real Madrid,” said Mourinho, who looked back over his three years at the club.
“I have failed this season. In my first season we won the cup and got to the semi-final of the Champions League and fought for the league until the end,” he said.
“The second season we won the league against the ‘best team in the world’ and got to the semi-finals… The third season, with these results is a failure and when things go well its merit of everyone, and when they go badly it’s the coach’ s fault,” he added.
Mourinho lamented the fact that his side had hit the woodwork on three occasions while adding that he had not discussed his future with club president Florentino Perez.
“There are still two games to go and we have to respect the league and people who have other objectives to play for and we have to be serious in them and then the president and I can sit down to say what we have to say,” he concluded.
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