×
UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Atletico need ‘personality’ to prevent Barca comeback, says Koke  Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke said Monday his team must play with “personality” to stop Barcelona from mounting a Champions League quarterfinal comeback.The Rojiblancos earned a 2-0 first-leg win at Camp Nou last week and host the Spanish champions on Tuesday, aiming to reach the semifinal for the first time since 2017.Five-time winner Barcelona reached the final four last season and arrives at the Metropolitano stadium determined to fight its way back into the tie and ramp up the pressure on the hosts.“It’s hugely important to beat the press they usually put on,” Koke told reporters.“They’re a team that presses very high, that pushes their line almost up to the halfway line, that presses you, that suffocates you.“That’s where our personality comes in, when it’s time to play, to want the ball, to make ourselves available, to make runs in behind.”The match is the third between the sides in the last fortnight and the sixth they have played this season, with Atletico knocking Barca out in the Copa del Rey semifinal.“We’ve faced each other many times throughout this year,” continued the midfielder.“We know each other perfectly, and it’s going to be very important to take the ball off them, attack the spaces well, and have the personality to want the ball and not lose it.”Koke scored against Barca in the 2014 quarterfinal as Atletico — which has never won the competition — went on to reach the final, as it did in 2016, losing on both occasions to rival Real Madrid.ALSO READ | Premier League 2025-26 — Man City routs Chelsea to close gap on leaders Arsenal“I’ve watched that goal quite a few times,” admitted Koke.“It’s true that when these kinds of matches start coming around, you try to motivate yourself and you try to visualise a lot of positive things that happened, like in 2014, like in 2016, and like in the first leg a week ago.”Atletico coach Diego Simeone kept his cards close to his chest ahead of the second leg, refusing to say whether goalkeeper Jan Oblak was fit to start or elaborate much on anything at all.“We’re fully aware of the strong opponent we’ll have in front of us,” said the coach. “But we’re also clear about our objective, which is to go through.”Published on Apr 13, 2026  #UEFA #Champions #League #Atletico #personality #prevent #Barca #comeback #Koke

UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Atletico need ‘personality’ to prevent Barca comeback, says Koke

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke said Monday his team must play with “personality” to stop Barcelona from mounting a Champions League quarterfinal comeback.

The Rojiblancos earned a 2-0 first-leg win at Camp Nou last week and host the Spanish champions on Tuesday, aiming to reach the semifinal for the first time since 2017.

Five-time winner Barcelona reached the final four last season and arrives at the Metropolitano stadium determined to fight its way back into the tie and ramp up the pressure on the hosts.

“It’s hugely important to beat the press they usually put on,” Koke told reporters.

“They’re a team that presses very high, that pushes their line almost up to the halfway line, that presses you, that suffocates you.

“That’s where our personality comes in, when it’s time to play, to want the ball, to make ourselves available, to make runs in behind.”

The match is the third between the sides in the last fortnight and the sixth they have played this season, with Atletico knocking Barca out in the Copa del Rey semifinal.

“We’ve faced each other many times throughout this year,” continued the midfielder.

“We know each other perfectly, and it’s going to be very important to take the ball off them, attack the spaces well, and have the personality to want the ball and not lose it.”

Koke scored against Barca in the 2014 quarterfinal as Atletico — which has never won the competition — went on to reach the final, as it did in 2016, losing on both occasions to rival Real Madrid.

ALSO READ | Premier League 2025-26 — Man City routs Chelsea to close gap on leaders Arsenal

“I’ve watched that goal quite a few times,” admitted Koke.

“It’s true that when these kinds of matches start coming around, you try to motivate yourself and you try to visualise a lot of positive things that happened, like in 2014, like in 2016, and like in the first leg a week ago.”

Atletico coach Diego Simeone kept his cards close to his chest ahead of the second leg, refusing to say whether goalkeeper Jan Oblak was fit to start or elaborate much on anything at all.

“We’re fully aware of the strong opponent we’ll have in front of us,” said the coach. “But we’re also clear about our objective, which is to go through.”

Published on Apr 13, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Atletico #personality #prevent #Barca #comeback #Koke

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke said Monday his team must play with “personality” to stop Barcelona from mounting a Champions League quarterfinal comeback.

The Rojiblancos earned a 2-0 first-leg win at Camp Nou last week and host the Spanish champions on Tuesday, aiming to reach the semifinal for the first time since 2017.

Five-time winner Barcelona reached the final four last season and arrives at the Metropolitano stadium determined to fight its way back into the tie and ramp up the pressure on the hosts.

“It’s hugely important to beat the press they usually put on,” Koke told reporters.

“They’re a team that presses very high, that pushes their line almost up to the halfway line, that presses you, that suffocates you.

“That’s where our personality comes in, when it’s time to play, to want the ball, to make ourselves available, to make runs in behind.”

The match is the third between the sides in the last fortnight and the sixth they have played this season, with Atletico knocking Barca out in the Copa del Rey semifinal.

“We’ve faced each other many times throughout this year,” continued the midfielder.

“We know each other perfectly, and it’s going to be very important to take the ball off them, attack the spaces well, and have the personality to want the ball and not lose it.”

Koke scored against Barca in the 2014 quarterfinal as Atletico — which has never won the competition — went on to reach the final, as it did in 2016, losing on both occasions to rival Real Madrid.

ALSO READ | Premier League 2025-26 — Man City routs Chelsea to close gap on leaders Arsenal

“I’ve watched that goal quite a few times,” admitted Koke.

“It’s true that when these kinds of matches start coming around, you try to motivate yourself and you try to visualise a lot of positive things that happened, like in 2014, like in 2016, and like in the first leg a week ago.”

Atletico coach Diego Simeone kept his cards close to his chest ahead of the second leg, refusing to say whether goalkeeper Jan Oblak was fit to start or elaborate much on anything at all.

“We’re fully aware of the strong opponent we’ll have in front of us,” said the coach. “But we’re also clear about our objective, which is to go through.”

Published on Apr 13, 2026

Source link
#UEFA #Champions #League #Atletico #personality #prevent #Barca #comeback #Koke

Previous post

Deadspin | Unlikely hero Dustin Harris helps White Sox edge Royals for split <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28716901.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28716901.jpg" alt="MLB: Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 12, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Dustin Harris (37) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Dustin Harris roped a pinch-hit double and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the seventh inning, then made a late potential home run-robbing catch, as the visiting White Sox won 6-5 over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Tanner Murray and Colson Montgomery each hit two-run homers and the White Sox used nine pitchers to win a contest that started after a three-hour rain delay and salvaged their split of this four-game set.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>With the score 5-5, the little-used Harris opened the seventh with a double, and eventually scored from third via a wild pitch by John Schreiber (0-2). Then in the eighth, Kansas City’s Michael Massy sent a Lucas Sims pitch deep to right field, but Harris reached up and snagged the ball at the top of the wall.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Carter Jensen and Isaac Collins each had two hits with an RBI for Kansas City, which won the previous two games by 2-0 scores.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Chicago snapped a 21-inning scoreless rut in the second. After Royals starter Noah Cameron posted two strikeouts, Montgomery doubled and Murray sent a drive that drifted over the left-field wall for his first career homer.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>The White Sox’s Grant Taylor retired all six batters over the first two innings in his fourth 2026 opener appearance. However, Sean Newcomb started the third, where he allowed a one-out single to Collins, then loaded the bases with back-to-back walks.</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>Jonathan Cannon then entered for his 2026 debut and allowed the Royals to tie it with three consecutive walks before leaving with right hip irritation. Brandon Eisert entered, and Kansas City went ahead 3-2 via Jensen’s RBI infield squibber.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>The White Sox regained the lead in the fourth. With two out and a man on, Montgomery sent a Cameron pitch just inside the right-field pole for a 4-3 edge.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>But, Kansas City went back up via RBI singles from Collins and Bobby Witt Jr. in the bottom of the fourth.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Cameron exited after 5 1/3 innings, yielding six hits and five runs — the last coming when Nick Mears walked ex-Royal Andrew Benintendi with the bags loaded in the sixth to tie it at 5-5.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Jordan Leasure (1-0) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-12"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #hero #Dustin #Harris #helps #White #Sox #edge #Royals #split

Next post

NFL mock draft 2026: Top-10 shifts following breaking news <div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">We are 10 days out from the 2026 NFL Draft, and the board is more or less getting set. There are going to be some major surprises down the stretch, and unquestionably some trades on draft night that shake things up, but this is one of our last attempts to predict a trade-free first round based on where the talent is falling.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">There is one major change to this mock draft that can’t be ignored: Rueben Bain Jr. The Miami edge rusher was a lock to be a Top 10 pick, but draft rumors last week that <em>something</em> was happening with Bain broke on Sunday night as <a href="https://www.readoptional.com/p/rueben-bain-linked-to-2024-miami">Oliver Connely reported that Bain has been linked to a 2024 car accident</a>, resulting in the death of a 22-year-old student. <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/48471125/ex-miami-de-rueben-bain-involved-2024-car-accident-which-1-person-later-died-report-says">ESPN has picked that story as well</a>, and while I still have him being taken in the first round for now, there is a lot of due diligence occurring with Bain that I have him slipping out of the Top 10 as a result.</p></div><div><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">How do you feel about your team’s pick?</h2></p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Got a question or comment about this mock? Leave it below and we’ll respond.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This is going to be such a fun draft.</p></div> #NFL #mock #draft #Top10 #shifts #breaking #news

But that frustration worsened Sunday morning, when Hadjar was disqualified from qualifying following a post-session inspection.

During the post-qualifying scrutineering, race stewards found that the floor on Hadjar’s RB22 was protruding approximately two millimeters beyond the specifications allowed for in the 2026 F1 technical regulations. Hadjar and a Red Bull representative were summoned to a hearing with race officials, set for early Sunday morning.

Following the hearing, Hadjar was disqualified from qualifying.

In the report from race stewards, they noted that Red Bull “did not dispute the findings of the Technical Delegate that portions of the LHS and RHS floor boards were protruding 2mm out of the reference volume RV-FLOOR BOARD.”

Race officials imposed the standard penalty for a breach of the technical regulations, which is a disqualification from the session. Red Bull then requested that Hadjar be permitted to start the race, despite being disqualified from qualifying, and race officials granted that request.

Hadjar will line up 22nd on the grid, at the back of the field.

Speaking after qualifying, Hadjar outlined his frustration with the upgrades, and his performance during the hour.

“The car was very hard to drive, it was very fast. In Q3 I just couldn’t put it all together and on the other side we have no straight line speed,” Hadjar said after qualifying.

“I think it’s a very tricky track, very low grip with high track temperature. So nothing to do with what we had in the first three rounds. It’s not a very fluid racing track with good grip.

“It’s completely different and Max is very good at adapting to these conditions. In the corners I can tell you I’ve made big progress compared to yesterday. I just couldn’t tidy up like he did and on top of that I’m missing in every straight.”

Now he’ll have to make up significant ground on the track, in what is expected to be a very wet Miami Grand Prix.

#Isack #Hadjars #qualifying #disqualification #Miami #explained">Isack Hadjar’s qualifying disqualification at the Miami GP, explained  Red Bull brought a series of upgrades to the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, hoping to unlock improved performance in the RB22. The decision seemed to pay immediate dividends for Max Verstappen, who put his RB22 on the front row during qualifying, and he will start second alongside pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli later today.However, Isack Hadjar qualified ninth — 0.825 seconds behind Verstappen — which was frustrating enough for the Red Bull driver.But that frustration worsened Sunday morning, when Hadjar was disqualified from qualifying following a post-session inspection.During the post-qualifying scrutineering, race stewards found that the floor on Hadjar’s RB22 was protruding approximately two millimeters beyond the specifications allowed for in the 2026 F1 technical regulations. Hadjar and a Red Bull representative were summoned to a hearing with race officials, set for early Sunday morning.Following the hearing, Hadjar was disqualified from qualifying.In the report from race stewards, they noted that Red Bull “did not dispute the findings of the Technical Delegate that portions of the LHS and RHS floor boards were protruding 2mm out of the reference volume RV-FLOOR BOARD.”Race officials imposed the standard penalty for a breach of the technical regulations, which is a disqualification from the session. Red Bull then requested that Hadjar be permitted to start the race, despite being disqualified from qualifying, and race officials granted that request.Hadjar will line up 22nd on the grid, at the back of the field.Speaking after qualifying, Hadjar outlined his frustration with the upgrades, and his performance during the hour.“The car was very hard to drive, it was very fast. In Q3 I just couldn’t put it all together and on the other side we have no straight line speed,” Hadjar said after qualifying.“I think it’s a very tricky track, very low grip with high track temperature. So nothing to do with what we had in the first three rounds. It’s not a very fluid racing track with good grip.“It’s completely different and Max is very good at adapting to these conditions. In the corners I can tell you I’ve made big progress compared to yesterday. I just couldn’t tidy up like he did and on top of that I’m missing in every straight.”Now he’ll have to make up significant ground on the track, in what is expected to be a very wet Miami Grand Prix.  #Isack #Hadjars #qualifying #disqualification #Miami #explained

disqualified from qualifying following a post-session inspection.

During the post-qualifying scrutineering, race stewards found that the floor on Hadjar’s RB22 was protruding approximately two millimeters beyond the specifications allowed for in the 2026 F1 technical regulations. Hadjar and a Red Bull representative were summoned to a hearing with race officials, set for early Sunday morning.

Following the hearing, Hadjar was disqualified from qualifying.

In the report from race stewards, they noted that Red Bull “did not dispute the findings of the Technical Delegate that portions of the LHS and RHS floor boards were protruding 2mm out of the reference volume RV-FLOOR BOARD.”

Race officials imposed the standard penalty for a breach of the technical regulations, which is a disqualification from the session. Red Bull then requested that Hadjar be permitted to start the race, despite being disqualified from qualifying, and race officials granted that request.

Hadjar will line up 22nd on the grid, at the back of the field.

Speaking after qualifying, Hadjar outlined his frustration with the upgrades, and his performance during the hour.

“The car was very hard to drive, it was very fast. In Q3 I just couldn’t put it all together and on the other side we have no straight line speed,” Hadjar said after qualifying.

“I think it’s a very tricky track, very low grip with high track temperature. So nothing to do with what we had in the first three rounds. It’s not a very fluid racing track with good grip.

“It’s completely different and Max is very good at adapting to these conditions. In the corners I can tell you I’ve made big progress compared to yesterday. I just couldn’t tidy up like he did and on top of that I’m missing in every straight.”

Now he’ll have to make up significant ground on the track, in what is expected to be a very wet Miami Grand Prix.

#Isack #Hadjars #qualifying #disqualification #Miami #explained">Isack Hadjar’s qualifying disqualification at the Miami GP, explained

Red Bull brought a series of upgrades to the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, hoping to unlock improved performance in the RB22. The decision seemed to pay immediate dividends for Max Verstappen, who put his RB22 on the front row during qualifying, and he will start second alongside pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli later today.

However, Isack Hadjar qualified ninth — 0.825 seconds behind Verstappen — which was frustrating enough for the Red Bull driver.

But that frustration worsened Sunday morning, when Hadjar was disqualified from qualifying following a post-session inspection.

During the post-qualifying scrutineering, race stewards found that the floor on Hadjar’s RB22 was protruding approximately two millimeters beyond the specifications allowed for in the 2026 F1 technical regulations. Hadjar and a Red Bull representative were summoned to a hearing with race officials, set for early Sunday morning.

Following the hearing, Hadjar was disqualified from qualifying.

In the report from race stewards, they noted that Red Bull “did not dispute the findings of the Technical Delegate that portions of the LHS and RHS floor boards were protruding 2mm out of the reference volume RV-FLOOR BOARD.”

Race officials imposed the standard penalty for a breach of the technical regulations, which is a disqualification from the session. Red Bull then requested that Hadjar be permitted to start the race, despite being disqualified from qualifying, and race officials granted that request.

Hadjar will line up 22nd on the grid, at the back of the field.

Speaking after qualifying, Hadjar outlined his frustration with the upgrades, and his performance during the hour.

“The car was very hard to drive, it was very fast. In Q3 I just couldn’t put it all together and on the other side we have no straight line speed,” Hadjar said after qualifying.

“I think it’s a very tricky track, very low grip with high track temperature. So nothing to do with what we had in the first three rounds. It’s not a very fluid racing track with good grip.

“It’s completely different and Max is very good at adapting to these conditions. In the corners I can tell you I’ve made big progress compared to yesterday. I just couldn’t tidy up like he did and on top of that I’m missing in every straight.”

Now he’ll have to make up significant ground on the track, in what is expected to be a very wet Miami Grand Prix.

#Isack #Hadjars #qualifying #disqualification #Miami #explained
GT vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2026: Shedge, Stoinis push Punjab Kings to 163 for nine; Holder takes four for Gujarat Titans  Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey, Vishal Nishad.  #PBKS #Live #Score #IPL #Shedge #Stoinis #push #Punjab #Kings #Holder #takes #Gujarat #Titans

Post Comment