CHARMLESS Diego Simeone seemed to have forgotten the name of the team against whom Atletico Madrid drew 2-2 at Parkhead last night.
The tedious Argentinian coach of the Spanish outfit didn’t identify Celtic during his aftermatch interview following the Champions League Group E encounter.
Dodgy Diego referred to the Hoops as “the opposition” and insisted Brendan Rodgers’ side “ran out of ideas a bit” as the game ended in stalemate.
Simeone, though, did give Celtic credit for their “speed and dynamism” during the match that saw the hosts lead twice through goals from Kyogo Furihashi and Luis Palma.
THE LAST HURRAH…Diego Simeone ignores Brendan Rodgers as the Celtic boss is about to show rspect by shaking the hand of his dug-out rival.
The La Liga cracks came back off the ropes to level with Antoine Griezmann the fortunate recipient of a rebound after Joe Hart had saved his penalty-kick and Alvaro Morata delivering the second sickener 10 minutes after the turnaround with a trademark header at the back post.
Simeone said: “Our opposition played well in the first-half and we played extremely well in the second-half. I wasn’t surprised at all.
“I saw how well they played against Feyenoord and Lazio. In the second-half, they ran out of ideas a bit, but I was impressed with their speed and dynamism and their ability to move the ball forward at pace and create chances.
“As I expected, they started the game really well, as they did against Feyenoord and Lazio.
“We really struggled to contain them and their first attack resulted in a goal. In the first-half we didn’t play the way I wanted us to.
“But I was really pleased with the second-half. “
PARADISE…Luis Palma celebrates making it 2-1 in the first-half at Parkhead.
Simeone, speaking to the Scottish Sun, added: “In the first-half, we didn’t have the speed that the game required, we weren’t up to scratch and they combined well in our half and scored a couple of goals.
“In the second-half, the substitutes made a really big impact.
“Our opposition played well, they were at home, they got off to a great start.
“We need to increase the time we are playing at the level we were in the first-half. But we responded well and that is what we have to see if we are going to compete in the Champions League.”
The teams lock horns again in the Spanish capital a week on Tuesday.
Maybe the Atletico Madrid gaffer will have learned their name by then.
POINT TAKEN AS KYOGO, PALMA STRIKE
