‘Oh the irony!’, ‘we really broke them’ – Many fans react as Atletico Madrid president hits out at ‘Defensive’ Man City after champions league tie

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has claimed Manchester City played “pre-historic” football in Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final in a pointed barb following Pep Guardiola’s perceived criticism of Diego Simeone’s side.

City held on for a goalless draw at the Wanda Metropolitano to secure a 1-0 aggregate win, but the night will be remembered for ugly scenes towards the end with Atletico’s Felipe sent off and Stefan Savic somehow avoiding a red card before players clashed again after the full-time whistle.

Atletico piled pressure on City in the final stages, with John Stones making a crucial block to deny Matheus Cunha before Ederson saved from Angel Correa in the 11th minute of stoppage time as Guardiola’s men showed some defensive steel.

Although Guardiola insisted after Wednesday’s match he had never criticised Atletico’s style, saying “(Simeone) can play the way he wants”, Atletico were unimpressed by comments after the first leg in which the City boss spoke of “pre-history” when discussing their 5-5-0 formation.

And speaking to Radio Marca, Cerezo hit back on Thursday.

“It was a match that, with a bit of luck, would have taken us to the semi-finals. We were not lucky enough to score a goal and reach extra time,” he said.

“We are a team that has a lot of status so that someone can offend us and in the end it has been shown that everyone has their pre-history. We played a good game, attacking, and City yesterday played pre-history, defending and put a wall in front of their goal so they wouldn’t score.

“Everybody has seen it. City was a completely defensive team. In the second half they shot on goal once. Yesterday it was shown that each one has their pre-history.”

These Enrique Cerezo’s comments were shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

“Oh the irony!😂.”
Credit: @thechelskikid

“These lot are absolutely rattled. I hope they have lost a few good weeks sleep..”
Credit: @akash_saha_17

“The difference is one team defended a 0 0 with 180 minutes left to play and the other defended a lead with 45 minutes left to play away from home”
Credit: @aalexariton

“Played them at their own game and he can’t handle it”
Credit: @MCFC_Trey

“We done them at their own game & now they can’t take it..”
Credit: @MxrioMCFC

“Atletico has been doing it for ages as far as i remember their name. Even at etihad they played 5-5-0. Maybe he didn’t watch his own team”
Credit: @Owaiskhan072

“They can’t handle getting a taste of their owe medicine. At least we did not play, 5 – 5 – 0.
1.”
Credit: @fidbee

“Tears 😂 we really broke them”
Credit: @michael05994510

“Now tell me what City were supposed to do during an attack. Leave Ederson alone and pray to God 😂 You cannot compare at all the two teams they completely defended the whole 90 minutes of the first half with hopes of not conceding that was preposterous playing against City”
Credit: @Mancity254today

“Over 180+mins of football, City spent 135mins creating chance after chance after chance. Only for 45+ mins did we go defensive. So Enrique’s claims are nonsense, and come from a place of realisation that his team were just not good enough.”
Credit: @Doozy_45