Atletico Madrid’s antics slammed in Manchester City defeat

Rio Ferdinand slammed Atletico Madrid’s “distasteful behaviour” during their Champions League meeting with Manchester City on Wednesday night.

While Diego Simeone’s side created a number of chances in the second-leg after a hugely defensive display in the first-leg, the Spanish champions proved unable to score as Pep Guardiola’s made it through to the semi-finals.

Tensions boiled over in the closing stages and Atletico defender Felipe was sent off after receiving a second yellow card before the teams played out 12 minutes of added time.

Scuffles broke out among the players following Felipe’s dismissal for kicking out at Phil Foden and continued after the final whistle as the teams went down the tunnel.

Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand said: “Distasteful behaviour from the Atletico players, they should be embarrassed with some of the antics they have gone on with – you have to say, talking about football, well done to Atletico Madrid as they made Manchester City play in a way we haven’t seen for a long time.”

“It took them out of their rhythm and stride, and it made the game ugly. Man City had one shot on target the whole game. When do you ever say that?

“Well done to them from a football perspective, but some of the stuff we saw after the game was not what we wanted to see on a football pitch.”

City, however, came through the contest relatively unscathed, in terms of a result setting at the very least.

In the semi-finals, Pep Guardiola’s side will face Real Madrid in a two-legged tie, after Carlo Ancelotti’s side edged past Chelsea in their quarter-final tie on Tuesday evening.