RTÉ Soccer analysts Liam Brady, Richie Sadlier and Kevin Doyle expressed their exasperation at the tactics Atletico Madrid employed in their 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of their last-16 encounter at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday night.
Saul sent Atletico ahead after just four minutes and it was a lead they never relinquished, with Liverpool continually frustrated by their opponents' resolute defending.
Brady, who clearly believes that the beautiful game should be just that, was particularly irked by Diego Simeone’s charges penchant for the dark arts.
"Atletico are a horrible team," he fumed.
"Even in 2014 and 2016 when Simeone got them to Champions League finals, I just didn’t want them to have the satisfaction of winning it.
"You have to admire their commitment and their organisation, but the gamesmanship, feigning injury, persistent fouling... they did a job on Liverpool and Liverpool didn’t handle it.
"Klopp didn’t handle it and some of the players were reacting to it and they lost their way of playing. They created very, very little."
Liam Brady isn't a fan of the dark arts, with his admiration of Atletico Madrid of the grudging variety. #ATLLIV #UCL pic.twitter.com/nLRw4MXRyZ
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 18, 2020
Kevin Doyle echoed those sentiments, and just like Brady conceded to a measure of grudging admiration for Atletico’s commitment to the cause, even if it’s a cynical one.
Looking ahead to the second leg, Doyle said: "It’ll be a tough night.
"Atletico are so professional, the way they do it.
"All those frees and yellow cards - and they argue every decision and they try to charm the referee. They’re just good at what they do.
"But you just think going to Anfield... Liverpool are European Champions for a reason and they’ll have enough to claw it back. But it won’t be easy.
"They’re very good going forward.
"But they’re a disaster to watch! I don’t like watching them play but they do create chances.
"They’ve got skilful players and he’s the highest paid manager in the world.
"You’d think over the last few years he would have evolved that team to be more than just a team who fights and brawls and gets yellow cards, and rolls over and wastes time."
Reflecting on the win, Sadlier said: "It’s vintage Simeone.
"It’s them at their best or worst, depending on how you look at their tactics."
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