‘I think about my team, not the refs’ – Diego Simeone speaks out ahead of Atletico’s clash with Barcelona

Atletico Madrid's Argentine coach Diego Simeone gives a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match against FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, on April 13, 2026. (Photo by Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

After a Champions League quarter-final first leg filled with talking points and controversy, Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone refused to comment on referees ahead of the return.

“I’m thinking about my team, not the referees,” the manager stated. “They have a very difficult match ahead of them. With every match that brings us closer to the final, the pressure mounts, becomes extreme, because the stakes keep rising. Honestly, I’m not thinking about them.”

FC Barcelona protested an ambiguous situation where an Atlético player, Marc Pubill, handled the ball in the box after a goal kick. The referee interpreted that the ball was not yet in play when he did so. Precedent in the UEFA Champions League was split. In some cases, a penalty has been given in previous incidents of the same nature. In other cases, the ref waved it off.

Barcelona have a big task ahead as they trail 0-2 and must play away from home to advance in the Champions League. Atlético will rely on their vaunted defense to secure progress past the Catalans, something the capital club has achieved in the past in this competition. Simeone’s words come as Atléti recently launched a campaign on social media exposing what they perceived as favoritism from the refs towards their crosstown rivals, Real Madrid.

The manager did not dwell on the topic much. He instead turned his attention to his team. “We are convinced of what we need and what we are going after. We have to play the way we have been competing against them; we know they are a very good opponent, but we also know our objective, which is to advance,” he explained.