Barcelona full-back Dani Alves conceded that the best team progressing to the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday but not before blasting the state of the Vicente Calderón pitch.
The only goal of the game from Koke ensured Atlético Madrid went through 2-1 on aggregate but Alves was less than pleased with the dry surface he and his team mates were forced to play on.
The 30-year-old told Marca what impact it had on the Catalan sides play, he said: “It wasn’t a matter of desire, they play with their weapons and leave the field very, very dry.
“They know that hurts our game because it slows the match down a lot. And for their plan, this was perfect because they knock the ball long, fight and counterattack.”
Goal.com quoted the Brazilian defender who did, eventually, graciously admit that Atlético deserved to progress because whatever happens on the field is always correct in his opinion.
Alves said: “Of course they were fair winners. When a team does what they did we have to congratulate them. What happens on the field is always right.”
A disappointing night for Alves and co and they now switch their attention to the league, where they face Granada on Saturday.
