Atletico Madrid Manager Diego Simeone Satisfied with Team’s Efforts Despite Cup Exit

Atletico Madrid faced elimination from the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat against Barcelona, resulting in a 5-4 aggregate loss. Despite this setback, coach Diego Simeone expressed pride in his team’s overall season performance.

Having already been knocked out of the Champions League, Atletico endured yet another significant disappointment with their Cup exit, extending their winless streak to six matches. With just six points separating them from LaLiga leaders Barcelona, the signs are pointing towards an alarming fourth consecutive season without a trophy.

Nonetheless, Simeone maintains a positive outlook.

“The team has been competing admirably this season. We performed well in the Champions League and the Cup, and we’re having a solid league campaign. We will continue to approach each match with focus,” Simeone stated during a press conference.

“We are striving for continuous improvement to bridge the gap with the teams ahead of us, accepting our current position. I’m focused solely on maintaining our efforts, concentrating on what lies ahead in LaLiga, starting with our next match against Sevilla.“

It’s a tough pill to swallow for Atletico supporters, especially after the team appeared to be genuine contenders for three major trophies just a month ago during a two-month unbeaten streak.

At that time, they were neck and neck with both Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the LaLiga standings and had secured a direct spot in the Champions League round of 16.

However, their fortunes took a dive following a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to local rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League last month, followed by a 4-2 defeat at home against Barcelona in LaLiga, where they squandered a two-goal lead.

With their exit from the Spanish Cup, Atletico’s last hope lies in LaLiga, where they trail far behind Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, who are currently at the summit with 66 points, three ahead of Real Madrid, while Atletico is a further six points back in third place, with just nine matches remaining.

“Football has its ups and downs. There are times when you dominate the match and times when you have to manage the opponent. Throughout the season, it’s vital to navigate the different phases—good, average, and tough. We’re hopeful of finishing strongly, one match at a time,” Simeone remarked.

“Today wasn’t our best performance, but there’s no need for regret. There are no accusations or complaints; their competitive spirit and commitment were evident, and every player is giving their all. I hope we can continue this momentum.“

Barcelona will now be set to clash with Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on April 26 in Seville.