Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola was relieved after his team survived the return leg against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, but his words of praise for the Spanish team were not convincing for his Argentine counterpart Diego Simeone.

City held out for a 0-0 draw in the second leg, and qualified for the semi-finals thanks to its 1-0 victory in the first leg.

Guardiola praised Atletico's performance in the second half when he pushed hard for a goal that would have taken the match into overtime.

Guardiola said, "(Atletico) forced us to retreat to the defense... It was as if we forgot how to play, but it was well deserved by Atletico. Today we celebrate qualification, but with our performance today we could have bid farewell to the championship."

The Spanish coach blamed his team's busy schedule, and this weekend's Premier League clash with Liverpool, for City's lack of intensity in the second half.

Guardiola explained, "We came from a difficult game, and we did not have time to prepare for this match. I have great respect for Atletico. He can play the way he wants, I have never criticized Atletico's style and what Diego Simeone does, he knows how to do it more than anyone else in the world." ".

But Atlético coach Simeone was not convinced of Guardiola's sincerity.

The Argentine coach added at the press conference, "I have no reason to express an opinion about what someone says, whether it is good or bad. Smart people who can express words of praise can despise you. But we are not stupid."

"I am clear about our pride in who we are and how we compete. I would love to see those who win apply our style, because it shows once again that the important thing is to win."

City qualified to face Real Madrid, the 13-time European champion, who knocked out the defending champion Chelsea.

"Real Madrid is the king of the Champions League, and I'm looking forward to playing it," Guardiola told reporters.

He added, "We have reached the semi-finals for the third time in our history and the second in a row, but if we play as we did in the second half against Atletico, we will not have a chance against Real Madrid."