The powers that be at the Wanda Metropolitano are nursing a bitter pill to swallow this morning, following their Champions League semi final exit at t...
The powers that be at the Wanda Metropolitano are nursing a bitter pill to swallow this morning, following their Champions League semi final exit at the hands of Arsenal. While the footballing world has moved quickly to dissect the tactical nuances of the 2. 1 defeat on Tuesday night, the real fury emanating from the Atletico Madrid camp is directed squarely at the match officials. Our distinguished sources at GoalZaza can exclusively report that the atmosphere inside the Los Colchoneros dressing room was one of palpable rage, with club chiefs privately fuming that the referee chose to wave away three separate penalty appeals. In the scheme of things, this is a defeat that will hurt for a long time in the Spanish capital. Atletico Madrid gave a good account of themselves, matching Arsenal. �s formidable pace for large swathes of the game, but they will argue that the lion. �s share of the blame for their exit must fall on the shoulders of the man in the middle. The club. �s internal report, which GoalZaza has been privy to, lists three distinct incidents where they believe their players were illegally brought down inside the box. Publicly, the manager attempted to toe the party line, but privately, the word. �UEFA. �s machinery. � was used with considerable venom, suggesting a deep seated belief that the institution. �s structure is designed to favour the bigger, more commercial clubs. At the end of the day, Arsenal are through to the final and they deserve credit for their clinical finishing. Yet, this controversy will not die down soon. The Nigerian international in the Atletico ranks, Samuel Chukwueze, who was introduced late in the second half, worked tirelessly to create openings but was ultimately starved of service. His boots barely touched the right flank in the final ten minutes as Arsenal. �s defensive wall held firm. For the supporters back home, especially those who stayed up late to watch the action on the big screens in Surulere, this was a tale of what could have been. The atmosphere in the viewing centres around Allen Avenue and Garki would have turned from hopeful cheers to frustrated curses as each penalty call was denied. The cold calculations of the UEFA competition rules have, in their eyes, robbed a spirited side of a proper chance to fight. The machine, as they say, has turned once again."
