Musso was our best player – Simeone lauds Atletico keeper's seven-save display
Juan Musso made seven saves, including one from the penalty spot, as Altetico Madrid secured a narrow 3-2 win over Atletico Baleares.
Diego Simeone lavished praise on Juan Musso after the goalkeeper made a string of impressive saves to help Atletico Madrid beat Atletico Baleares in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
Argentina international Musso replaced Jan Oblak as one of 10 changes and made a total of seven saves as Atletico won 3-2 to book their place in the last 16.
Simeone's side stormed ahead through Antoine Griezmann and Giacomo Raspadori, but Gerardo Bonet pulled one back for the fourth-tier side before half-time.
After Griezmann doubled his tally, Musso – making just his fourth appearance of the season – got down low to keep out Jaume Tovar's penalty 10 minutes from time.
Mouhamadou Keita managed to beat the goalkeeper from the spot in the 90th minute, but Atletico held on to secure progression.
"I'm very happy for Musso. He's working very hard, waiting for his moment to perform for the team," said Simeone.
"It was an important day for him. He made two or three excellent one-on-one saves.
"Musso was the best player, which makes me happy. That's what he's there for, to make saves. And I'm glad the team had the composure to win."
Although they came under some late pressure and required Musso to bail them out a few times, Simeone did not think Atletico were ever truly in trouble.
"I don't think it got complicated. We always had the feeling they could have drawn level, but it wasn't that tense," explained Simeone.
"There were some isolated moments, those one-on-ones that Juan saved very well, but we controlled the game until the last eight or 10 minutes, when we stopped attacking.
"We tried to win the whole time. I liked the team's attitude, commitment, and intent.
"In the first half, at 2-0, we were controlling the game well. We had a chance before the goal that we could have handled better, and then it went to 2-1.
"In the second half, there were two very good chances for them to equalise, and then it went to 3-1.
"The first penalty might have been one, but I don't think the second one was. That put the game in a position that made it much closer."
