Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone insists he takes the blame for his side’s Champions League exit as Juventus booked their place in the next round on Tuesday.
The Spanish giants travelled to the Allianz Stadium with a two-goal cushion but were left stunned after a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick.
The former Real Madrid star opened the scoring with a bullet header, before then scoring with his head again despite Jan Oblak’s best efforts.
Atletico then conceded a penalty in the last 10 minutes, with Ronaldo stepping up to score his eighth career hat-trick in the Champions League. Simeone will now turn his attention to La Liga and admits he is to blame for their defeat.
He told reporters: “It was not about commitment, about work or effort. Juventus were better and deserved to win the game. They pushed us back. You must congratulate a rival when they play a game like that and you are beaten like today.
“We made many mistakes, for sure – but I mean me, not the players. They were better tactically and on second balls. That is why they won the game.
“I think Juve’s greatest strength is their pressing capability. Even when we did escape their pressing, we weren’t good enough on the second balls.
“Juventus played in a similar way to what we did in the first leg. We struggled and they deservedly go through to the quarter-finals.” After Tuesday’s win, Juventus are now 5.50 to lift the trophy this season.
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