Simeone shoulders the blame for Atlético's Copa del Rey exit
The Rojiblancos bow out after losing the quarter final return leg to Sevilla. "We had chance, but then there was Sergio Rico... " Simeone said.
Diego Simeone shouldered the blame for Atlético de Madrid's Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of Sevilla in the quarter-finals on Tuesday night.
Atlético conceded two late goals to lose last week's first leg 2-1 and conceded within 24 seconds of the return before going down to a 3-1 defeat, with Simeone sent to the stands after Pablo Sarabia scored Sevilla's third at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
Atlético out of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey
Atleti slipped 11 points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona following a 1-1 draw with Girona on Saturday and will not feature in the Champions League knockout stages having finished third in Group C behind Roma and Chelsea. However, the Argentinian backed his team to continue fighting in LaLiga and the Europa League having fallen out of two cup competitions already this season.
El Cholo takes the blame
"The responsibility for this elimination and the Champions League is all mine - as is our exit from the Cup tonight," Simeone told reporters. "There are still four months left in the season and between LaLiga and the Europa League, we'll keep competing like we always have. Our opponent took advantage of their chances. Sevilla finished their chances both here and in the first leg. This made them more comfortable in the tie. We were close to turning the match around in the first half and scoring the equaliser in the second, but [Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio] Rico played well over the two legs"