Diego Simeone failed to confirm whether or not he would stay on as the manager of 2016 Champions League runners up Atletico Madrid, after a heartbreaking loss to Real Madrid on penalties.
Simeone has built Atletico into a compact side that is challenging the Real-Barcelona duopoly in Spanish football, in the process winning him many accolades. He has even managed to take the Atletico side to the final of the Champions League twice in three years.
Unluckily, however, Atletico came out on the losing side once again as Cristiano Ronaldo struck the winning penalty for Real Madrid.
When asked about his future at Atletico Madrid, Simeone, who had also played for the club as a defensive midfielder, said that he is yet to decide if he wants to stay or not.
“Do I have to continue with Atlético or is it the end of a cycle? I have to think about that,” Simeone was quoted as saying in The Guardian. “Quite frankly I love my players. It’s obvious that they’ve given everything that they have, and they always give everything they have.
“We had the chance to become champions, we didn’t take that chance,” he said. “We need to continue working, I have to think things out on my part. That’s what I’m doing now. What is clear to me is that nobody remembers the losers. Losing two finals is a failure. We have to get over this and heal our wounds.”
Diego Simeone: An integral part of Spanish football
Atletico Madrid might be viewed as one of the best clubs in Spain (and in Europe) at the moment, but they were not always like that. The Rojiblancos have long been overshadowed by their arch rivals Real Madrid.
However, Simeone has transformed Atletico into a side that fights for every inch of the pitch, a work ethic that has helped them win a La Liga title and reach two Champions League finals. Hence, it is very important for Atletico to keep Simeone at the Vicente Calderon.
Before Simeone, the La Liga was basically a two-horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, Atletico have now emerged as a third challenger for the Spanish throne, making the chase of the league title much more interesting.Thus, the departure of Simeone could adversely affect both the club and the league.
