Fernando Torres Proud of Holding Off Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich but advanced to the final on away goals, and Fernando Torres admitted it was an arduous clash.
OMNISPORT
Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres likened the second leg of the Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich to a "siege."
Xabi Alonso's first-half free kick canceled out Atletico's 1-0 aggregate advantage from the first leg, but Thomas Muller failed to build upon that when he had a penalty saved by Jan Oblak before the interval.
Bayern continued to search for another goal, and it was hit on the counterattack shortly after the restart when Antoine Griezmann slotted a cool finish past Manuel Neuer.
Robert Lewandowski ensured Pep Guardiola's side won 2-1 on the night, but the away goal proved crucial, sending the Spanish side through on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
Torres saw his late penalty saved by Manuel Neuer, and he admitted it felt like Atletico was being subjected to a "siege," with Bayern relentless in its pressing and attacking.
"It has been a match of much suffering. We were overwhelmed," he said. "We could not find a way to put pressure on them. It has been a siege, but sometimes you cannot play the game you want. But it is also nice to win having suffered.
"We have had a very complicated path [to the final], we have beaten the best in Europe. We want to be champions. This team is ready to play against anyone."
Referee Cuneyt Cakir awarded Atletico's penalty for Javi Martinez's tackle on Torres, despite contact appearing to take place outside of the box.
The striker admitted he believed the correct decision would have been a free kick, but was unconcerned, as the incident ultimately had no bearing on the outcome.
"I thought it was outside the box on the pitch, but the play is quick and sometimes the referee sees where the player goes down," he added to BT Sport. "I saw the replay and it was clearly outside, but in the end it didn't change the final result so we don't have to think about that."
Griezmann urged calm from his teammates ahead of the final in Milan on May 28, with maintaining a challenge to win La Liga the club's next priority.
"We're delighted. It was difficult, a really hard game, we had a great opponent in front of us and we had to both defend and try to score," he said. "They were better, but we scored an away goal, which was important. We need to keep grounded and first of all think of the Liga before the final."