Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone evaluated the 2025/26 season when he spoke to the media ahead of the team’s penultimate home game against Celta Vigo at the Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Saturday.
With Champions League qualification now secured, Simeone was able to reflect on the season as a whole, as the best Atlético can do is hunt down Villarreal for third place.
“Of course Champions League qualification is extremely important, and it’s the club’s top priority. Just as Real Madrid and Barcelona’s top priority is to win the league title, our primary goal is to qualify for the Champions League, and our aim is to get closer to winning the title at some point,” Simeone said. “It’s clear that this was a season that’s hard to explain. On the one hand, we had a Copa del Rey final that slipped away on penalties; a semifinal that the team fought extraordinarily hard to win, following an incredible quarterfinal match against Barcelona. I think that, given what we had to offer, we gave absolutely our all and even more.
“It’s incredibly difficult to reach the position we’ve been in this season, and being so close always makes you feel like you could still be there. It makes you angry, disappointed and frustrated. But today I’m okay, because I ask myself and tell myself: we have to be grateful for everything that’s been happening to us in recent years, where we came from, and I clearly remember where we came from, to where we are now, has seen tremendous growth, and the only way we can allow ourselves to have that hope and that new opportunity, like we had this year, is to keep trying, to keep working the way we’ve been working, to have reached four (Champions League) semifinals in 14 years, to have played in two Champions League finals, to always be there, in that place that seems far away, but isn’t really that far.
“We’re very close to what we envisioned, but to get there, we need to keep working hard in every area, and if we do a good job in every area, it’s clear that the team will continue to grow,” Simeone continued. “The club, needless to say, is in a much better position than the team is, and the team continues to strive to catch up with all the growth the club has experienced, which is wonderful and helps us, and the fact that we’re recognized worldwide fills us with excitement. Because the truth is, beyond all this, as I mentioned earlier, the anger, disappointment, and pain of being eliminated, I am grateful. I’m grateful to my players, I’m grateful to our fans for how they’ve supported the team all season long, and to the club’s leadership for giving us the chance to have good players, because without good players, this is impossible. It’s about good players, and then it’s about the ability of the coaches, the physical trainers and the people around them to bring out the best in them—but it’s ultimately about the players.
“We’re on this journey to keep growing in every way, as I’m explaining, and it’s clear that the two days of anger, sadness, and all that are behind us, and now it’s time to get back out there and keep fighting.“
Diego Simeone on what makes him believe in what’s possible
“The players, 100 percent the players. Looking at the squad I have, that’s what gives me hope.”
Simeone on his message to the players
“No, the players are absolutely clear on where they stand. I thanked them yesterday for an extraordinary season in terms of competitiveness. Obviously, we didn’t win anything, and as for the critics, I’m grateful to them, because they’re the ones who motivate us to keep improving and always push us to get better. Because next season, after what we did this year, it’s time to be champions. So it’s good that they exist because we need them and because it’s part of life. It’s not always clear that these are positive things; there’s always criticism, and criticism is sometimes constructive and sometimes not, but we do need to be clear about where we stand, and as long as I’m here, we’re going to compete.”
Simeone on Koke’s future
“Well, the truth is that, with this many games, we haven’t had the chance to talk specifically about it. I’m not going to speak with you about what I think and what he might want before I speak with him. And when I speak with him, I think it will be more appropriate to explain how I feel, what I think and what he’s thinking as well.”
Simeone on the team’s emotional state
“We’ll be at our stadium tomorrow with our fans. Our fans will decide whether they’re behind the team or not, because people want to win, and either outcome is understandable. And all we have to do is keep working, keep giving our all, so they can see that we’re giving absolutely everything. And when you give absolutely everything in life, then you have to accept (the outcome), which is a tough word, when things go against you; and when you tell a friend, ‘well, you have to accept it,’ it’s easier, but when you have to live through it yourself, of course it’s harder, but you have to accept things. Sometimes things turn out the way God wants, not the way we want, and it’s clear that God’s plan is much better than ours.”
Simeone on Real Madrid’s training ground bust-up
“You know me, I’m very respectful. I understand the question and it makes sense to ask it, but I’m very respectful when it comes to these kinds of opinions, because I’m not in a position to comment, I’m not there with them.”
Simeone on why fans continue to support Atleti
“I think that, over these 14 years, the kids who were born from 2014 and earlier know why they support Atlético. You don’t even need to ask.”