Diego Simeone believes Ademola Lookman was one of the players who could have helped Atlético Madrid escape trouble during their heavy defeat to FC Barcelona on Tuesday night, Soccernet.ng reports.
Atlético lost 3-0 at the Camp Nou in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. It was a difficult evening for Simeone’s side, who spent most of the match defending as Barcelona attacked again and again.
Despite the big loss, Atlético still moved on to the final because they had won the first leg 4-0 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano back in February. That strong first-leg result saved them, but on Tuesday they came close to seeing that advantage disappear.
Simeone set his team up to attack, with Lookman, Julián Álvarez and Antoine Griezmann leading the line. However, things did not go as planned. Barcelona pressed hard, controlled possession and stopped Atlético from building attacks.
“We couldn't play the game we would have liked, attacking more down the right flank, like the play between Llorente and Lookman,” Simeone said as per AS.
“We couldn't attack as we would have liked because of their skill. Our people need a final and we hope to give everything to give them what they want.
“They wouldn't let us play, they took up space from us just as we did from them on our own turf. This happened in the first half, where we couldn't execute any of the attacking plays we'd planned.”
Lookman worked hard and tried to create chances. One of Atlético’s few opportunities fell to him when Marcos Llorente delivered a fine cross into the box. But the Nigerian forward headed the ball high over the bar.
Simeone later admitted he was disappointed that his team could not create more chances like that.
Atletico suffer but reach first final in 13 years
Barcelona started strongly and took the lead through Marc Bernal. Raphinha then doubled the advantage from the penalty spot. Bernal later scored again, making it 3-0 on the night.
At one point, it looked like Barcelona might complete a stunning comeback in the tie. But Atlético managed to hold on, even though they struggled to get forward.
“We knew we were coming to a difficult ground, against a team that plays very well,” Simeone added.
“The first half was intense; we couldn't, and they didn't let us, advance in attack and create more plays like Llorente's cross and Lookman's header. We didn't handle set pieces well, and that's how they scored against us, like the third goal, which looked offside but wasn't. If Barcelona scores against you from set pieces, you suffer more; that wasn't the plan.”
Simeone took Lookman off just before the hour mark as Atlético continued to defend deep.
“When you play against teams like Barça, you know you're destined to suffer if you don't attack,” Simeone noted.
“They suffer if the opponent strings together passes and looks to attack. We didn't attack; they pressed us, they ran down the clock. The few chances we had, we couldn't make them count; Lookman's shot, another through ball that he could have finished better… There weren't many, we expected more.”
Even so, Atlético have now reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time in 13 years.
If Lookman plays in the final, he will become the first Nigerian since Finidi George in 1997 to feature in a Spanish Cup final. He could also become the first Nigerian to win the trophy since Emmanuel Amuneke lifted it with Barcelona, and only the second Nigerian ever to do so.
After a night of suffering in Barcelona, Atlético now have one more big match to try and make history.
