Road end for Atlético de Madrid in UEFA Youth League Final Four. The semifinal contest held on Friday evening at Nyon ended with a defeat for Red-and-white U19’s team against RB Salzburg (0-5). The result means a farewell for Madrilenians to the competition so Fernando Torres, assistant coach for Ricardo Ortega’s staff, shared his views after the contest. Next Monday RB Salzburg will face SL Benfica in the big final as the Portuguese side defeated Juventus.

Torres said he feels “so proud of the lads, of the team, of the season they have completed. I am sure the defeat will be painful for a long time because we have taught them to feel that pain when they are defeated. Today I think the rival was better, and we have to accept that, but I don't think the result tells the whole truth of the match”, he said.

“It is another chance for them to learn, to manage the defeat. A chance to manage the pain they are feeling right now and turn it into willingness and a desire to compete”, Torres added.

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Ahora toca levantarse y continuar peleando por los objetivos que nos quedan esta temporada ?????? pic.twitter.com/TTKDrqNK6D

— Atleti Academia (@AtletiAcademia) April 22, 2022

Despite the European elimination Fernando calls to turn focus to the League challenge, as Red-and-whites are in top spot of the table with a seven-point advantage and this can be a good reason to bounce: “Now the best way to run away from sadness and pain is to think about the positives, about a match to be closer to the League target as we have a seven-point advantage. To think about the next game only. I know it's going to be a difficult task, to forget the defeat, but to win is the best way to forget defeats”.

Friday’s semifinal contest has been the first appearance ever for Red-and-whites in the Final Four as never before the Madrilenian club won the last-8 challenge. During their path to Nyon, Atlético qualified on the Group stage competing with several strong Academies: Porto, Liverpool and Milan were tough opponents.

In the knock-out stage Atlético U19 defeated away Hajduk Split (0/2-0/3), Real Madrid (2-3), and Borussia Dortmund (0-1), so the last game played on home soil was back in 2021 when Wanda Alcalá de Henares facilities hosted AC Milan.