diego simeone thanks atlético players' mothers after win over chelsea thursday 1 may 2014 10.13 bst theguardian.com
simeone: 'they gave birth to sons with balls this big' 'there are no favourites in a final,' says ancelotti
the atlético 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.
with the semi-final finely poised after the 0-0 at the vicente calderón in madrid, atlético fell behind at stamford bridge to a strike from their former captain fernando torres in the 36th minute.
however, they refused to throw in the towel and goals from adrian, diego costa and arda turan drove them into the final of europe's elite club competition for the first time since 1974, setting up a meeting with their city rivals real madrid.
"i want to thank the mothers of these players we have at atlético madrid because they gave birth to them with balls this big," said an emotional simeone, holding out his hands as if he were grasping an imaginary soccer ball. "the reaction of the team will stick in people's memories.
"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. we have to be grateful for their effort because without them we could not have experienced what we are."
real, the record winners with nine continental titles, will be playing their 13th final in lisbon on 24 may, while atlético have featured only once, losing to bayern munich 40 years ago.
they will become the first two teams from the same city to contest any european final. "everyone here in madrid is happy," the real coach carlo ancelotti told sky italian after atlético joined his side in the final. "those who have experienced these things know that there are no favourites in a final. it is going to be a very balanced match."
