Simeone downplays Espanyol defeat

The Atletico Madrid coach has urged his team to move on from their 1-0 loss to Espanyol on Saturday

Diego Simeone has insisted that spirits have not been dampened in the Atletico Madrid dressing-room, despite his side slipping to their first defeat of the season.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' unlucky own goal on 53 minutes handed Espanyol a narrow victory and ended their run of eight straight wins to start the league campaign.
 
Simeone, whose team face Austria Vienna in the Champions League on Tuesday, said his side tried their all to find an equaliser at Estadio Cornella-El Prat.

"It doesn't hurt because it's part of the game. We have always said our goal is to go match by match," he said.

"Today, we faced an adverse goal, but in the second half the team tried to draw in different ways and that was important.

"We didn't moan, but looked – maybe not too clearly – for a way to the goal."

Simeone lamented in-form forward Diego Costa's missed chance in the second half, but could not fault the efforts of his players.

"I think that the clearest chance was Diego Costa's, which could have taken us to equalise, but the effort was there," he said.

"In the second half we had 30 minutes to try, but it was impossible. We just have to congratulate the rival and get ready for Tuesday's match – which is a difficult one as well."

Simeone said his side were always going to find it hard after falling behind, with Courtois diverting a Juan Fuentes cross into his own net with his left foot.

"It was a locked match, tough as expected. The first team to score was going to be more comfortable," Simeone said.

"In first half we struggled to find the game although we didn't suffer in defence and we had Koke's shot off the post and Diego Costa's chance to score.

"In the second half, after their goal, we tried to equalise with different variants, but the goal didn't arrive."