Diego Simeone laments Atletico Madrid's FIFA Club World Cup rout by PSG

The Spanish side were overwhelmed by a dynamic PSG outfit, exposing defensive vulnerabilities and prompting Simeone to dissect a sobering defeat in this high-stakes tournament encounter.

Speaking to the media, Simeone highlighted Atletico's struggles in transition. "When we regained possession, we couldn't link up effectively," he said. "Antoine Griezmann had a chance their goalkeeper stopped, which led to their second goal.

"Koke's substitution gave us more control to escape their press, but after we pulled one back to 2-1, the referee disallowed the goal, and it got tougher. Clement Lenglet's red card created more chaos, and they sealed the match."

Despite the heavy loss, Simeone found positives in his team's effort. "The intent was there," he noted. "We fought but couldn't deliver. This defeat pushes us to respond with stronger results."

When asked about referee Istvan Kovacs' decisions, Simeone was curt. "After 14 years, I'm done talking about referees," he said. "I'm fed up."

He also dismissed the August heat as an excuse, stating, "It affected both teams equally. PSG have explosive players who can shift games. We could've done better, but we fell short."

The 4-0 scoreline stung, and Simeone acknowledged its impact. "Four goals is a lot," he admitted. "We're focused on our next match on the 19th. We know there'll be challenges, and this was one."

Defending his decision to play Antoine Griezmann as a second striker behind Julian Alvarez, Simeone said, "Antoine had a great chance to score, which is why he was there. PSG are a young, talented team. When Luis Enrique needed a left-sided player, they spent 70 million euros in January."

On bolstering Atletico's left flank, Simeone remained confident. "We're strong in that position," he stated.

The defeat serves as a stark reminder for Atletico of the work needed to compete at this level, while PSG's commanding performance underscores their credentials as serious contenders in the FIFA Club World Cup.

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