Madrid: Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone thanked his players’ mothers for producing such gutsy sons after the La Liga leaders fought back to beat Chelsea 3-1 on Wednesday and secure their place in the Champions League final.
“I want to thank the mothers of these players we have at Atletico Madrid because they gave birth to them with balls this big,” an emotional Simeone, holding out his hands as if he were grasping an imaginary soccer ball, told a news conference.
“The reaction of the team will stick in people’s memories,” added the Argentine, who was known as a never-say-die player during his career at Atletico and various clubs in Spain and Italy. “The players took control of the pitch against a powerful team, with a lot of history in the Champions League, and that make me very pleased,” Simeone added.
