Atletico Madrid fans on X are fuming at Diego Simeone after he included Jan Oblak in the starting XI to face Arsenal. The two sides are set to lock horns in the Champions League semi-finals later tonight (Wednesday, April 28).
Jan Oblak starts in goal for Atletico. while Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, David Hancko, and Matteo Rugerri make up the defense. The midfield comprises of Koke, Ademola Lookman, Jonny Cardoso, and Giuliano Simeone. Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann start up front to complete the starting XI.
Thanks for the submission!
Oblak has struggled in goal this season, keeping 10 clean sheets in 39 appearances across all competitions. However, he remains an Atletico Madrid legend and has largely performed well for them over the past 12 years, keeping 231 clean sheets in 534 appearances in total.
Despite this, one Atletico Madrid fan commented:
“Oblak has no business starting. Same for Koke. However since Barrios is gone again I can stomach dinosaur Koke starting. Musso Musso Musso”
Another fan tweeted:
“Why oblak oh lord we threw the match away”
Other fans reacted below:
“We believe we can stop them” – Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone sends warning to Arsenal ahead of UCL clash
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has backed his side to cause an upset against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals. He also revealed that his players are excited amid Los Rojiblancos reaching the final four for the fourth time in 14 years.
Both clubs have gone close to winning the Champions League in recent history, but neither have made it past the final hurdle. During the recent pre-match press conference, Simeone said (via Daily Mirror):
“It’s extraordinary that Atletico Madrid is in a Champions League semi-final again after nine years and after doing it for the fourth time in 14 years, if I’m not mistaken. That really is wonderful, it’s incredible, incredible. And I think that faith, that excitement, that contagiousness that our people transmit to us will do us a lot of good.”
He added:
“We are going to face a tough game with a very good opponent and with a set-piece strategy as you well said at the beginning that is very well worked and well, here we go with all the excitement. I always say that dreaming is good but reality is what happens on earth. And what happens on earth is what we do and what God wants. So that’s how we behave.”
He concluded:
“Honestly pressure no, there’s no pressure. There’s responsibility. There is the excitement of being close to a huge goal that the club has never achieved. And of course there is a special excitement. And we have to prepare well, we’re going to play the game we want to play, the game we imagine and as I always say, take the game where we want so we can hurt them.”
The victor of their semi-final tie will face the winner of Bayern Munich and PSG in the Champions League final. Les Parisiens currently hold the advantage, having secured a 5-4 win over Bayern on April 28.
Edited by Silas Sud
