Simeone: We will continue to take risks

15-Feb-2013 7:00:00 PM

The Europa League holders are on the brink of elimination after the Argentine coach's late gamble, but the Los Rojiblancos man insists that will not put him off in the future

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is adamant that he will continue to take risks, such as the one which leaves his side needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Rubin Kazan in the last 32 of the Europa League.

With the Russian outfit a goal up at the Vicente Calderon, the former Argentina international elected to push goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo forward for a 95th-minute corner.

However, the risky tactic proved to be the Atleti's downfall as Rubin doubled their lead on the counter-attack with Pablo Orbaiz having a simple finish as Asenjo was left a spectator, nonetheless Simeone remains defiant.

"Football is a game of risks and as long as we play the game we will continue to take them" said the 42-year-old.

"The decision and any subsequent responsibility was, and is, mine. I felt that the match was just about over and that a 1-1 scoreline would have brought us closer to getting through the tie."

The holders of the competition now have to score at least two goals in the return leg in Russia to have any chance of going through to the last 16.