Diego Simeone had nothing but positive things to say about his Atletico Madrid team’s efforts this season, even though they fell short in the Champions League.
Atletico went down 1-0, sealing a 2-1 aggregate defeat, in the semi-finals against Arsenal on Tuesday.
Bukayo Saka’s goal proved decisive at Emirates Stadium, where Atletico managed only two attempts on target and created chances worth just 0.53 expected goals.
Atletico failed to win either leg of a major European semi-final for the first time since 1998-99 in the UEFA Cup (L2 v Parma), and for just the second time in the European Cup/Champions League, after losing both legs versus Real Madrid in 1958-59.
They look set to finish fourth in LaLiga, while they also lost to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final last month, but Simeone believes his team have performed beyond expectations this term.
“We got knocked out, it’s because our opponents deserved to get through, they took their big chance in the first half, and they deserved to get through. I feel calm, I feel peaceful,” he told UEFA.
“We weren’t clinical enough with the situations we were in. We improved in the second half. There were things that could’ve gone our way, but they didn’t. We gave it our all and now we have to accept the place that we are in.
“Thanks to our supporters and players, I feel proud to be where we are right now. I said we wanted to compete and we have done that. Unfortunately, we haven’t won anything but we have reached places that are hard to reach.”
Simeone did, however, seem slightly downcast when asked if he felt “strong” over his future, with speculation having long since mounted that he may be soon calling time on his long Atletico tenure.
“It gives me a reality, which is the reality of Atletico as a club: It has grown enormously in every aspect, a club recognised throughout Europe and the world in a way it wasn’t before,” he told reporters.
“But people want to win; reaching the [semi-final] isn’t enough for them.”
Antoine Griezmann made what is set to be his 128th and final Champions League appearance, with the Frenchman having agreed to join Orlando City at the end of the season.
“I hope our fans give Antoine the boost he’s earned in these last few matches,” Simeone said, before hailing another of Atletico’s stalwarts.
“Koke was incredible, a masterclass in how to play football at his age. And I’m grateful to the team. When the players give their all, when they compete, we want to win, but it’s not enough.”
Griezmann led Atletico for duels won (6/9) and attempted four tackles, double the amount of shots he managed.