Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak has hailed Manchester City as one of the best sides in the Champions League following their win last night.
Manchester City ran out 1-0 winners over Diego Simeone’s side in the first leg of their quarter-final clash last night.
The game played out exactly as many had predicted, with Atlético going for the defensive approach and holding City at bay for much of the game.
It saw Pep Guardiola’s side dominating possession 71% to 29%, while the La Liga side didn’t manage a single shot throughout the tie.
Only a moment of magic from Phil Foden, whose driving run set up Kevin de Bruyne’s goal, was enough to break the Spaniard’s resilience in an otherwise defensive masterclass.
The 1-0 scoreline means the game will still be in the balance when the two sides meet for the second leg at the Wanda Metropolitano, and Oblak has insisted that is very much the mentality in the Atlético dressing room.
“Everyone knew it was going to be a complicated match,” Sport report him telling Movistar.
“We came here to get a good result, we lost, but I think that with 1-0 the tie is still alive, we play at home, it’s complicated, but at home, they are always special games, and everything is possible.
“Manchester City is a great team, one of the favourites for this Champions League; we play at home; I believe in the team and that everything is possible.
“City play like that. They have a high possession game against all teams, not just us, and if you go crazy, they punish you.
“Luckily, we have been cool-headed, closing down the spaces. It’s two games. This is the first part, now there’s the second in Madrid, and we’re going with all our ambition to reach the semifinals.”
