Atletico Madrid concluded their season with a disappointing 5-1 loss to Villarreal, securing a fourth-place finish. This outcome fell short of expectations, especially after the team’s strong performances in the Champions League semi-finals and Copa del Rey final.
Head coach Diego Simeone reflected on the defeat and identified areas for improvement in the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. “We were very excited about finishing third. We couldn’t show what we wanted. Villarreal played only in La Liga, which is easier. We compete until the semi-final of the Champions League and the final of the Copa del Rey.”
“We’ve conceded too many goals this season, and that doesn’t allow you to compete. In the Champions League, we scored a lot of goals, and that’s why we were able to advance further. It is a wake-up call. It’s not easy to compete until the Champions League semi-finals, reach the Copa del Rey final and finish third. If we want all that, we have to prepare better for next season. We have to prepare better.”
Simeone on Álvarez’s Future: A Personal Decision
When questioned about whether Julián Álvarez might have played his last match for Atleti, amid reports of the Argentine striker rejecting a new contract offer, Simeone responded:
“It’s not a question for me, it’s a question for Julián. He’s old enough to know what he’s going to do, and I’m sure he’ll have his decision made.”
