Ancelotti and Simeone both proud after Real Madrid progress to Champions League semis

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and his defeated rival, Diego Simeone both said they were proud of their respective sides after their Champions League return leg.

A Javier Hernandez goal in the 87th minute saw Real through into the semi-final and gave them their first win in eight attempts against their neighbors.

It was the only goal in 180 minutes of football between the two sides in a quarter-final typified by tension and tight play broken up by errors and fouls, but over which Real deserved to emerge triumphant against a rival who failed to create any chances from open play in either of the two matches.

"We face a rival that was very strong in defense and they hardly give you any chances," said Ancelotti, who added he had a "lot of respect," for Atletico. "We have won and we have lost against them, but they always work well at the back," he said.

The Italian said he was content with the way the game had developed.

"I wanted the game to be like that, with us controlling the play, looking to attack, but being patient. We also tried not to concede set pieces and we maintained out concentration."

"This was a key game for our season," he added. "Now we can still go for all our objectives, we are alive and that means we are very dangerous," said the Real Madrid boss.

Meanwhile Simeone had nothing but praise for his side.

"I' m going away proud of my team because of the way they competed tonight. My team is a team of men. They showed that, whatever happens, you have to compete. If you give your maximum out there, you can go home happy," he said, adding he had "no negative sensations," about the game.

Simeone rejected claims that the 75th minute dismissal of midfielder Arda Turan had been a turning point in the result.

"I' ve got nothing to say about Arda' s sending off because it' s not going to change the result, isn' t it? We lacked connection up front," he explained.

As well as Real Madrid, the other semi-finalists are Bayern Munich, Juventus and FC Barcelona and the draw for the semi-finals will be made at mid-day on Friday. Endi