"I couldn't blame my players for a defeat like this."
At the post-match press conference at the Bernabéu Stadium, Simeone said this with a deeply frustrated, regretful, and helpless expression.
"I know that every one of them gave their all. We worked hard to show our best side and produced our best form. We wanted a better result at the Bernabéu Stadium, but unfortunately, our opponents were stronger."
Simeone did not believe Atletico Madrid had been without a chance, because for most of the match, the two sides had been locked in a stalemate.
"That proves our tactics were targeted, and that they worked."
But Simeone believed one important reason Real Madrid had won was Yang Yang's volley.
"From a technical perspective, that was absolutely an extraordinary Wonder Goal. As someone in the football profession, I couldn't help but admire it. But what I felt even more was helplessness, because in the Super Cup before the season began, Yang Yang scored a beautiful goal after running the length of the pitch against us. Now he's scored another Wonder Goal. I'm starting to suspect he has a grudge against us."
Simeone's direct and candid words made the reporters present smile.
Everyone knew that as a player, Yang Yang certainly had no grudge against Atletico Madrid. He had never even made any remarks attacking other teams. The reason he had performed brilliantly twice and scored classic goals was largely because Atletico Madrid had forced him into it.
Someone had once said that Yang Yang was the kind of player who was very disciplined. Everything he did was governed by rules, which made him efficient and extremely consistent, because everyone knew that flashes of inspiration and creativity could not last forever.
But once Yang Yang was pushed too far, he could also perform