Atletico Madrid News
Alvaro Morata, Axel Witsel, Koke hit out at referees after Real Sociedad 1-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid’s mixed start to the new season continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Sociedad away at the Reale Stadium on Saturday.
Los Rojiblancos started the game well, with Alvaro Morata finding the back of the net just five minutes to put them in front. However, a controversial goal from Umar Sadiq ten minutes into the second half allowed La Real to salvage a point from the fixture.
The equalising goal and the refereeing decision have come under much scrutiny as Sadiq appeared to have handled the ball before it ended up in the back of the net.
However, the VAR chose not to intervene despite having not given Atletico Madrid a goal in the first half when the ball had hit Joao Felix’s hand before Morata sent it into the net.
Atletico Madrid were unhappy with the calls made and Morata took aim at the officiating and the VAR for their decisions.
“It happens so fast on the pitch that it’s almost impossible to see, we understand that, but there are also people in the VAR room, and it’s all based on criteria. These aren’t decisions that are made as they explained it to us, it’s up to their criteria,” he said.
“On the pitch, you can’t see much. In the end, we can’t do anything and we just have to play and accept what happens because nothing will change. They won’t change anything that happened,” he added.
Axel Witsel also chimed in on the officiating on the night, saying: “We played a good game today, as a whole.
“I think that getting just one point was a shame because in the goal that we conceded, based on the video replay, I think the attacker used his hand to score – first his head, then his hand. We deserved more than a point.”
Atletico Madrid captain Koke was also critical of the decisions made by the match officials, as he said: “The team made a great effort, I think we deserved a lot more. We were penalized by details.
“I think their goal was scored with the hand. They [the referees] come to give us chats, then later they do the opposite. It’s happened in several games, but that’s football…”
Source: Atletico Madrid YouTube
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid midfielder on the derby against Real Madrid: “Very difficult to beat them”
Following a 1-1 draw in their Champions League opener against Lazio, Atletico Madrid will shift all their attention to La Liga, as they brace themselves for the derby against Real Madrid this weekend.
Heading into this game, Atleti midfielder Marcos Llorente spoke about Real Madrid’s quality and Atletico Madrid’s chances of squeezing all three points from this iconic derby.
Llorente on Madrid derby
“The sensations are good. The team is very good, the other day we played a great game despite ending up drawing. I really think that the team did a great job that must be maintained for this match,” Llorente said in an interview with Diario AS.
When asked whether or not Real Madrid being tagged as favourites could aid Atleti, the midfielder said, “Honestly, it neither motivates me nor demotivates me. We simply have to do what we work on during the week, what the coach asks of us.”
Llorente stressed the importance of the game, adding, “It is a great rival we have in front of us, they are having a very good start to the season and that motivates me and everyone to try to play a good game.”
“Real Madrid is a great club, they have great players and it is very difficult to beat them. I think we have competed, we have also achieved several draws, but in the end, either you go out one hundred percent and do things very, very well or it is difficult to beat them,” he added.
A former member of the Real Madrid youth academy, Llorente joined Atletico Madrid in 2019. Since then, he has racked up over 150 competitive appearances for Los Colchoneros.
Llorente, though, said he feels no sense of vindication when he performs well against his former team.
“No. In the end, it’s been many years since I left there and I’m at Atlético. Perhaps in the first years, those types of feelings and sensations can arise, but today they no longer do,” he said.
Llorente on Vinicius, Koke & Bellingham
The Atletico Madrid star went on to talk about other aspects of the game, including the fact that his team had one less player every time they faced Real Madrid last season.
“I have zero worries. These are things that are not in our remit, that escape our hands. We play football, the referees referee and those who have to decide decide,” he said.
Llorente, in fact, said that the return of Koke could be a real boost for Atleti. “It is always good that Koke is with us, both on the field and in the day-to-day life of the game,” he said.
“Beyond the grass. The support he gives, the advice he gives us, his experience. it is always important to have him and it is great news that he is already training with us,” he added.
Talking about the absence of Vinicius Junior and the form of Jude Bellingham, Llorente said, “Well, you have to be careful with everyone. All Real Madrid players are very good and can make a difference at any moment of the game. Bellingham is having a great start and we have to take that into account and be very focused.”
Finally, Marcos Llorente put out a message for all the Atletico Madrid fans, claiming their support ahead of this crucial encounter this weekend.
“It will be a full house as always. We don’t have to tell them anything, they know the importance of this match for Atlético, we know that they never fail, they are always supporting us and we count on them,” he said.
