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Koke defends Atleti antics
Atletico Madrid captain Koke has defended his side’s antics during their Champions League quarter-final exit to Manchester City and pointed the blame towards Pep Guardiola’s men.
The Citizens progressed to the semi-final with a 1-0 aggregate victory following a goalless draw at the Wanda Metropolitano which descended into chaos during the closing stages.
Both sets of players were involved in a mass scuffle during stoppage time following a foul on Phil Foden by Atleti defender Felipe, who was eventually sent off for a second bookable offence.
Team-mate Stefan Savic angrily tried to pick Foden off the ground before later appearing to headbutt Raheem Sterling and pull unused substitute Jack Grealish’s hair.
But Koke stood by his team-mates’ actions and suggested they were the result of time-wasting tactics by the Premier League outfit.
The skipper said post-match: “The match takes you to that madness when you see that you have chances and they drop to the ground and waste time.
“Many times we are criticised for this situation, but today it was them. Let’s see what people think of this. Today it has been seen, we are Atletico de Madrid and I am proud of this team.
“I’m proud of my team-mates for the effort. I have nothing to reproach the team with. I’m proud of everyone and the fans, who have lost, stayed to applaud us after the game. This is Atletico.”
Mitro chasing Championship award
Aleksandar Mitrovic, Harry Wilson and Dominic Solanke are in the running to be named the Championship Player of the Season.
Fulham striker Mitrovic has hit a remarkable 38 goals for the runaway Championship leaders, already smashing Ivan Toney’s previous second-tier record of 31 with six games still left to play.
Cottagers team-mate Wilson has been similarly impressive with the winger registering 10 strikes and 14 assists in the league this term.
Hoping to pip them to the award is Bournemouth striker Solanke, who has hit 24 goals for the second-placed Cherries.
Fulham starlet Fabio Carvalho and Nottingham Forest duo Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence will battle it out for the Championship Young Player of the Season prize.
The winners will be announced at the EFL Awards on Sunday, April 24.
Guardiola: City in big trouble with injuries
City boss Guardiola says his City side are in “big trouble” as a result of the injuries suffered during last night’s quarter-final second leg.
Both Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were forced off during City’s resolute display in Madrid, an encounter which came just three days after a pulsating 2-2 draw with title challengers Liverpool in the Premier League.
And while delighted to seal a place in the Champions League semi-finals for the second season running, the Spaniard expressed concern over the fitness of his players as a result of the bruising encounter.
The 51-year-old said: “Today we celebrate because it is the third time in Manchester City’s history we are in the Champions League semi-finals.
“But we can’t forget we played three days ago, travelled, came here, have a lot of injuries now and I don’t know what will happen in the next weeks.
“We cannot play all the time and score four or five goals, we are human beings — we come from a difficult game against Liverpool. We are in big trouble.”
City now have just three days of recovery before facing the Reds once again in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Former Colombia captain Rincon dies
Former Colombia captain Freddy Rincon has died after suffering severe head injuries in a car crash.
The 55-year-old was driving a car that collided with a bus on Monday morning in the Colombian city of Cali.
The former Real Madrid midfielder made 84 appearances for his country, scoring 17 goals and playing at three World Cups between 1990 and 1998.
He shares the record for the most games played at a World Cup for Colombia (10) with fellow great Carlos Valderrama.
A tribute from the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) read: “We will miss him and remember him with great affection, appreciation, respect and admiration.
“We send strength, support and our condolences to his family, hoping they can bear this sad and painful loss.”
