Andrea Poli insists AC Milan were better team

AC Milan midfielder Andrea Poli has insisted that his side were superior to Atletico Madrid in Wednesday night's Champions League last-16 home leg, despite the Italian team's 1-0 defeat.

Poli had a first-half header tipped onto the woodwork while Kaka also hit the bar in the encounter, and the Italian said that Milan would use their perceived injustice to their advantage in the away leg.

"We all played really well and were punished the only time we lost focus," he told UEFA.com. "Now, however, we know we can do well and compete at the same level as a team like Atletico - because tonight we played better than them. We want to qualify, we are angry about the result and we will use this feeling to play a great game in Madrid.

"Thibaus Courtois did really well with my header but we had more than one chance to score. We were very united on the pitch and I think we did not give them any opportunities until their goal. We played at high tempo for at least 70 minutes, we are disappointed but I think we can still qualify."

Diego Costa scored an 83rd-minute header to hand the advantage to Atletico.