Substitute Matheus Cunha led the comeback as he pulled one back in the 64th minute and then provided the assist for Harmoso to slot home the winner.
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Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone’s half-time talk did the trick as his side secured a thrilling 3-2 La Liga victory against Valencia after trailing by two goals at half-time. Diego Simeone’s side were staring down at another disappointing defeat when Yunus Musah and Hugo Duro put Valencia two up at half-time. However, Atletico pulled one back through Matheus Cunha after the hour-mark before Angel Correa equalised in the 90th minute and then, two minutes later, Mario Hermoso struck the winner to complete an incredible fight back.
25’ Atleti 0-1 Valencia
44’ Atleti 0-2 Valencia
64’ Atleti 1-2 Valencia
90+1’ Atleti 2-2 Valencia
90+3’ Atleti 3-2 Valencia pic.twitter.com/nN1FHraZwX— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) January 22, 2022
Simeone was asked about recent criticism and how he felt about the situation Atlético find themselves in. They are the reigning champions but find themselves trailing the league leaders Real Madrid by 13 points. However, the result gives a huge boost to Simeone’s side and they are now just four points behind fourth-placed Real Betis with a game in hand.
“I’m in a marvellous place,” Simeone said.
“It’s easy to explain what you saw tonight. We weren’t ourselves in the first half. We didn’t do anything we wanted to do. They took two shots and scored two goals. For the second half, with all the anxiety and desperation, we spoke calmly. We said there were different ways to lose, but if we were to lose, we had to lose with bravery.
“We knew the fans wouldn’t let us down.”
Joao Felix was replaced before the hour-mark with the Portuguese forward clearly looking disappointed not to finish the game. Cunha, who came in for Thomas Lemar led the comeback as he pulled one back in the 64th minute and then provided the assist for Harmoso to slot home the winner.
“The changes are because of what you feel,” he said. “I felt that what we were looking for was two strikers in the middle and players who could send crosses in with Felipe there to keep us strong at the back. We got some luck, but what I was looking for came through with the changes.
“What is football? What is ‘to play well’? It’s an internal battle,” Simeone continued, when asked about just how much football this team can play. “Football is football and you have to interpret it from where you are. The more players who can interpret that, the closer we are to winning. You can lose, but you have to lose with pride.”
