Simeone refuses to blame heat after Atletico lost 4-0 to PSG

LOS ANGELES, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone refused to blame the scorching temperatures at Pasadena's Rose Bowl for his side's heavy 4-0 loss to Paris Saint Germain in their Club World Cup opener on Sunday.

Atletico was outplayed for most of the game, with Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha giving PSG a 2-0 lead at halftime. Late goals from Senny Mayulu and Lee Kang-in sealed the win, while Atletico finished with 10 men following Clement Lenglet's red card.

"The first half, we didn't play as we should have," admitted Simeone, who acknowledged the team improved after the break, but noted that "Lenglet's sending off made things more complicated."

"They (PSG) have a very young team, and they rounded it off in a great way," said the Atletico coach. He dismissed suggestions that the 30-plus degree heat was a factor.

"It's the same heat in August (in Spain), so I don't blame that, and it was hot for both sides," he said, while praising PSG for their quality.

"They played better than us, they play a team game with very young players and wingers who can change a game ... they won the Champions League, the League, the Cup," said Simeone, who admitted Atletico must now "get good results" in upcoming matches against Seattle Sounders and Botafogo.

Botafogo moved into second place in the group later in the day with a narrow 2-1 win over Seattle, who tested the Brazilian side throughout the match. ■