Diego Simeone reveals stinging question he asked Atletico Madrid players at half-time in Brugge win

Atletico Madrid sealed progression to the Round of 16 in the Champions League with a 4-1 win over Club Brugge on Tuesday night, a result that perhaps is a little deceptive regarding the overall feel of the tie. However Diego Simeone was enormously satisfied with his side after the match, looking relieved on the touchline afterwards.

Simeone was delighted that his side progressed to the next round, calling it important for the growth of the club, with President Enrique Cerezo stating before the match that they were obligated to win. Diario AS note that the victory is worth €12m in Champions League prize money to Atletico. Speaking after the match, Simeone explained his emotional reaction.

“I’m very happy. There’s a tremendous amount of work behind these results, which are starting to be more positive than negative. We had a lot of new players last season and many more this season. Reinventing ourselves is never easy, and when you see the willingness and conviction of the substitutes when they come on, it really moves me.”

“I’m a football man, and when I see that commitment to the idea, to what we’re aiming for, I feel a strong connection. I’m grateful for the team’s work. In the first half, we faced an opponent that plays very well, I’m not exaggerating. They pressured us, they took time away from us. In the second half, we played a far superior game in every way.”

Simeone reveals stinging half-time question to players

While Atletico opened the scoring at the Metropolitano through Alexander Sorloth, Club Brugge could justifiably have claimed to be the better side going into the break. Simeone revealed that he had questioned his side during the half-time team talk.

“The feeling that I perceived. They were attacking to win, and we, I don’t know why we were attacking, were just there to be there beside them. That’s what we talked about: we had to increase the intensity of our pressing, be more decisive in our attacking positioning. After Johnny’s goal, which opened the door for us, and with the substitutions… It wasn’t easy to leave Lookman and Griezmann out. Julian had been playing well lately. You have to make decisions, and it excites me to see that those who come on do so in a way that supports the team’s philosophy. It was difficult; it’s not an easy decision.”

Journalist: "You scored three goals but in the end you don't seem very happy."

Alexander Sørloth: "I score a goal and I’m very happy, but I’m Norwegian and I don’t have many emotions." pic.twitter.com/3E6IVcc9Df

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) February 24, 2026

Simeone on Sorloth hat-trick

The star of the show was Sorloth, who scored a hat-trick, Atletico’s first in the competition for a number of years. The Norwegian was handed a start over Ademola Lookman.

“I felt he was in form, that the other day against Club Brugge he came on and gave the team what it needed, because he’s different from the rest. When you have a strong player who brings the ball out from the back and stretches the team when we can’t find a passing lane. He did very well in Bruges, also against Espanyol, and today he did it again.”

The other side of the coin is Julian Alvarez, who was withdrawn before the hour-mark after another discreet performance.

“The same thing happened with Griezmann last season. I kept playing him, but he couldn’t deliver. These are decisions I accept, and I believe in players like him. Both Griezmann and Julian today… Alex has something no one else has, and when he’s on form, when he’s present and involved, like he was in the first leg for those 20 minutes, he’s back to the level we need. He’s very important for us.”

Atletico Madrid will face Real Oviedo on Saturday night in Asturias, before traveling to face Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona. Undoubtedly the biggest game on their remaining calendar this season, Los Colchoneros are heavy favourites to progress after a 4-0 win in the first leg.

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