Diego Simeone insists Atletico Madrid were 'living in fear all night about what Leicester might achieve' and adds it was a pleasure to play against Foxes

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Leicester City’s European dream ended on Tuesday night but only after staging a rousing fight-back that had Atletico Madrid scared of a stunning upset.

Diego Simeone admitted his side were ‘living in fear’ of what Leicester might achieve when Jamie Vardy equalised after Saul Niguez’s opener with half an hour of the game left.

Leicester needed two more goals to progress and ultimately came up short, losing 2-1 on aggregate, but subjected a team who have reached two of the last three Champions League finals to a sustained attacking assault.

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Diego Simeone praised Leicester's spirit, insisting 'they never gave up for one minute'

Saul Niguez opened the scoring for Atletico Madrid to put the tie out of reach for Leicester

‘I have to say what a great performance from Leicester,’ said Simeone. ‘It was a pleasure to compete against them, they never gave up for one minute, they never let their heads drop. We were living in fear all night about what they might achieve as they coming forwards. They pushed us all the way.’

Niguez’s fine header after 26 minutes left Leicester needing to win by two at the King Power Stadium by virtue of the away goals rule.

Craig Shakespeare made the bold choice to send on Leonardo Ulloa and Ben Chilwell at half-time, switching to 3-4-3, and was rewarded with a stirring display. Vardy finished smartly in the 61st minute to give Leicester hope but despite the home side mustering 20 second-half attempts at goal Atletico held firm.

Atletico endured a testing spell during the second period at the King Power Stadium

'Second half we played really well,’ said Shakespeare. ‘We talked about different scenarios and we had to go more direct. We had them rattled at times and it's no discredit to lose to a team of that calibre.

‘The change was earlier than I thought, the application as a group was tremendous. We needed the second goal when the opportunity came but it wasn't to be.

‘The whole club from the supporters, owners and players should be immensely proud but they should want more of this. The players have agreed to a man that is what they want.'

Craig Shakespeare insists that Leicester can hold their heads high following Tuesday's match

Vardy, who became the first English player to score in a Champions League quarter-final since Frank Lampard in 2012, said: ‘We gave it our all. They made quite a few blocks on the line, which on another day would have gone in.

‘The tactical change at half-time, when we brought Leo on to cause an aerial threat, started to pay dividends for us but unfortunately it wasn't to be.

‘They are probably used to playing against teams who like to keep the ball more so going direct caused them problems. We were definitely in the ascendancy. It was a very entertaining display and we can hold our heads high.’

Captain Wes Morgan, playing his first game in more than a month, was forced off late on but Shakespeare believes the problem was nothing more than cramp.