Diego Simeone claims that 'numbers speak for themselves' as Atletico march on

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/?mid=r3DQf78K"]Despite a 3-2 loss[/a] at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham Hotspur[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico[/a] wrapped up a ‌7-5 aggregate win to set up a last-eight ‌clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a].[/p][p]"[b]Sometimes you don't need to say anything, the ‌numbers speak for themselves,[/b]" [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simeone-diego/AZ18LjKN/"]Simeone[/a] told reporters.[/p][p]"[b]It's a moment ‌to be happy as a club, as a team, with the joy of our fans, who will celebrate this step towards ‌the quarter-finals. When you get here, the ⁠road will be tough, ‌as in previous situations where we reached the final[/b]."[/p][p]Despite a three-goal ​cushion from the first leg last week in Madrid, Atletico made life difficult for themselves on ​Wednesday and needed goals by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-julian/bBHauDIC/"]Julian Alvarez[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hancko-david/zRTnwHe5/"]David Hancko[/a] to ease their path as Tottenham threatened a comeback.[/p][p]"[b]The ⁠effort was enormous. ​The team didn't start well; the three-goal lead didn't help. We equalised, then it was 2-1, we equalised again, we had chances to close it out, and then came ‌the final penalty. The draw was what we deserved[/b]," he said.[/p][embed guid="1ef20f6e-7d59-4c18-8980-76642d91fa2d" url="https://x.com/ChampionsLeague/status/2034392395832234374?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Barcelona went one better than Atletico in the last-16, scoring eight goals over their two legs against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle United[/a], seven of them on Wednesday.[/p][p]The LaLiga leaders will be favourites in the quarters, but Simeone's side will take heart from their two-legged victory over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final.[/p][p]"[b]It will be difficult because we'll ‌be facing the best attacking team in Europe, but ​we'll have the enthusiasm to compete,[/b]" Simeone said.[/p][p]After surviving ‌a scare at Tottenham, Atletico will have little time to rest on their laurels.[/p][p]They are away at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] in LaLiga at the weekend, and then face Barcelona three times in their next four games ⁠after the international break, ⁠once in the league ‌and twice in the Champions League.[/p]