Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal: 'Ugly' Atletico did not deserve progress

Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal says Atletico Madrid did not deserve to progress from Tuesday's Champions League semifinal second leg, telling COPE it was "one team who played ugly football against the best team in the world."

Bayern had 68 percent possession over the 90 minutes at the Allianz Arena, taking 34 shots in total to just seven from Atletico, and managing 668 passes to their opponents' 212.

However, Antoine Griezmann's away goal meant that, despite losing 2-1 on the night, Atletico triumphed on away goals and will meet either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final in Milan on May 28.

Chile international Vidal told COPE radio's "El Partido de las 12" show that Bayern had "managed the game" but just been unable to take their chances.

"Today there was one team who played ugly football against the best team in the world," Vidal said. "We were the better team. We managed the game, but we did not take the chances we had. The only time they saw the ball was their goal."

Asked if he thought Atletico had deserved to reach the final, the former Juventus player replied: "Definitely not. Definitely not.

"They will dream about us. They did not have the ball, they were up against the best team in the world, they took their chances and they are going to the final. In football the best team does not always win, as happened today."

Fellow Bayern midfielder Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, said on Cadena SER's "El Larguero" show that he was disappointed but accepted the result.

"I am sad, obviously, as we have been so close to making the final," former Real Madrid star said. "We played a very complete game, played well, we were so close... but we did not make it. We must congratulate Atleti and then see what happens."

Alonso said that the way the game played out was "typical Atletico" in that Diego Simeone's side had been able to hang on in the game before taking advantage of their opponent's mistake.

"We made it very difficult for them, above all in the first half," he said. "They hardly got out of their half, but then typical Atletico: we make one mistake, maybe it was offside, and the goal from Griezmann, which hurt us a lot.

"They are capable of scoring without dominating the play. That was how it happened. We had control of the ball, but just one move and Griezmann got through on [Bayern goalkeeper Manuel] Neuer and did not let us away with it."

Alonso said he hoped Real would beat Manchester City on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu to set up a repeat of the 2014 final, when Carlo Ancelotti's men won 4-1 after extra time.

Alonso, who was suspended for that match, said: "I am obviously with [Real] Madrid. If we cannot be there, for my past and the people I know there, I hope they go through, and then for a repeat of the final in Lisbon."

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