'We won and we were eliminated' - Diego Simeone accuses UEFA of 'deciding' Champions League loss to Real Madrid after Julian Alvarez's freak penalty incident

Alvarez’s spot-kick, which was ruled out for a double touch, continues to frustrate Simeone, who believes his compatriot was unfairly penalised. The incident proved pivotal as Atletico crashed out of the tournament, adding to Simeone’s growing list of grievances with UEFA’s officiating decisions.

Atletico’s frustrations did not end with their European disappointment. Just days after their Champions League heartbreak, Simeone’s side squandered an early lead against Barcelona, eventually suffering a 4-2 defeat. The loss dealt a serious blow to their La Liga title aspirations, as they fell further behind in the race. Returning to domestic action this weekend after the international break, Atletico failed to rediscover their winning form, managing only a 1-1 draw against Espanyol, a side fighting to avoid relegation. The result left Simeone visibly frustrated as his team continue to struggle with inconsistency at a crucial stage of the season.

Speaking after the match, Simeone once again expressed his frustration with UEFA, directly blaming them for Atletico’s early exit from Europe’s elite competition.

"We did very well in the Champions League; we competed well, we won the second leg [at home], we finished as UEFA had decided. We won and we were eliminated," he told reporters. "I don't consider it a blow. What happened was very clear."

Shifting focus to the Barcelona defeat, Simeone admitted that his team was exposed by a relentless and fierce Catalan attack.

"Against Barcelona, it was a different situation, we were exposed to a very dangerous team, and they scored four goals in 20 minutes," he added.

Simeone’s immediate focus now turns to the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barcelona on April 1. The first meeting between the two sides produced a thrilling 4-4 draw, setting up a decisive showdown at the Metropolitano.