Olmo, De Jong react after Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona: ‘Luck wasn’t on our side’
Olmo, De Jong react after Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona: ‘Luck wasn’t on our side’ Barcelona may have secured a 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid, but their UEFA Champions League journey came to a frustrating end, and the reactions from the dressing room revealed a mix of pride, anger, and belief in the long-term project. One of the standout performers on the night, Dani Olmo, was named MVP by UEFA. However, despite the individual recognition, the Spaniard made it clear that the result overshadowed everything.
Speaking after the game, Olmo subtly pointed towards refereeing decisions, particularly those involving Clément Turpin, as a recurring theme in his reflections. Expressing his frustration while still acknowledging the team’s effort, Olmo said, “We’re not leaving satisfied. We wanted to go through, but we know we have to do much more because they are not going to give us anything.
“In fact, they’re going to take things away from us. We’re a young team; we have to learn, improve and keep pushing,” he began. Olmo’s analysis The attacking midfielder also reflected on key moments that defined the tie, highlighting how small details, both tactical and officiating-related, played a role in Barcelona’s elimination.
While acknowledging Atletico’s strengths, he did not shy away from referencing controversial calls. Breaking down the decisive phases of the match, Olmo added, “Atletico are also a team that play well. They know how to hurt us, and they took advantage of a moment where we were slow to react to score their goal.
“But there was a dubious decision, such as the penalty (by Llorente on Olmo himself), and Eric’s sending-off with Jules right there, but that’s no excuse. ” Barcelona players want to get past the elimination. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) Despite the disappointment, Olmo struck a forward-looking tone, insisting that Barcelona’s project under Hansi Flick is moving in the right direction, even if results in Europe have not yet followed.