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Atletico Madrid coach Simeone delighted with victory over Real Madrid: Bellingham should've seen red

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says victory over Real Madrid was deserved.

Atletico were impressive as they defeated Real 3-1 on Sunday.

Simeone said: "Good, happy. The team played a good game. With 2-0 we went back too much, we gave them many opportunities to play where they are best. They had many chances, although they were missing Joselu. They created that difficulty for us with the 2-1. We talked at half-time that if we continued like this, we had a good chance of losing. We had to play, look for the far post because they have difficulty closing and that's how Morata made it 3-1.

“We tell them the same thing as always, but some days they are better. Today they were very good. There was a very strong communion, a stadium that accompanied and was felt.

“Throughout my time we have had great footballers who have represented these types of situations with actions. Griezmann has no difficulty in going back, in suffering, in playing the game he plays. That is why he is one of the most important players on the team, also for Lino, Riquelme, the young people… That we can copy the good things."

Asked if Jude Bellingham was man-marked, Simone replied: “No, the spaces were reduced and I think that the absence of Joselu left him fewer possibilities of reaching, when he took advantage of Joselu's aerial game.

"We controlled him better, he is extraordinary. Madrid shows on the field that something can always happen. Luckily the 3-1 took away that space where they are better, with 2-1 and stage fright. For us this victory is very important."

Asked about Bellingham's foul on Angel Correa, he added: “It seemed like a live expulsion to me, it was hard up the leg, with Angelito hitting the ball."

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