Simeone psyched to make Atletico gr-eight again

MADRID - Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone lauded his side's determination to keep making its mark on the Champions League after it reached the last eight for a fourth straight season.

Simeone's men have lost out in the final to cross-city rival Real Madrid in two of the past three campaigns.

However, it has another chance at Champions League glory as a 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday sealed a 4-2 last-16 aggregate win and its place in Friday's quarterfinal draw.

"Firstly, there is joy," said Simeone.

"It shows the great effort the club and, above all, the players have made in the way they have competed and given their heart and soul in the past four years.

"Everyone has done their bit to be among the top eight teams in Europe."

Atletico was far from its best at Vicente Calderon stadium as it relied on a stunning triple save from goalkeeper Jan Oblak to prevent just a second Champions League loss in the past four seasons.

However, the Spanish side got the job done in Germany three weeks ago thanks to goals from Saul Niguez, Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres.

"We didn't need to attack like crazy," said Atletico star Antoine Griezmann.

"We tried to see the game out at the back and that is what we did. We are in the quarterfinals and we are all happy."

Another European reunion with Real is one of seven possible opponents for Atletico in the last eight, along with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, Leicester City and Juventus.

"Hopefully we can get a good draw and through to the semis," said Griezmann.

"We have to show every year we are among the best teams in Europe and every year we achieve it."

New Leverkusen boss Tayfun Korkut was taking charge of his first Champions League game and summoned a much-improved performance as his side forced Atletico onto the back foot for long spells.

However, Korkut hailed Atletico's obstinate rearguard as Oblak's heroics denied Julian Brandt and then two follow-up efforts from Kevin Volland midway through the second half to secure Los Rojiblancos' 17th clean sheet in their last 20 home games in the competition.

"I haven't seen anything like it," said Korkut.

"I've watched it again and it isn't just him. There were many defenders throwing themselves to block the shot.

"You see how this team defends its goal. They are all there to put their foot or any part of their body on the line."

Korkut was hired after a 6-2 thrashing at Dortmund which, following the first-leg defeat to Atletico, prompted the firing of Roger Schmidt.

And with Leverkusen 10th in the Bundesliga, Korkut hopes it gains momentum from its impressive showing in Madrid.

"We saw that we have the quality to cause them problems. Atletico suffered and we had a lot of chances," added the 42-year-old coach.

"The important thing is that the team has taken the first steps forward comparing with where we have come from in the Bundesliga."

Agence France-Presse