Triumph over adversity
Spain, May 23: Diego Simeone said Atletico Madrid winning La Liga was a triumph of overcoming adversity after his team were crowned champions for the second time in seven years on Saturday.
Atletico beat Real Valladolid 2-1 to finish two points ahead of Real Madrid at the end of a draining season shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s been a very hard year for us and for the world, difficult for every team and in such a tough season Atletico has come out as champions,” said Simeone.
“That is symbolic, it speaks of the club and the team being made of something different, that in difficult moments, when everything seems impossible, with the pandemic and the injuries and without fans in the stadiums — with all this, our players gave it everything and they came out on top.”
Luis Suarez scored the winner, his 21st goal of the season proving to be the one that clinched the title for Atletico, eight months after he was forced to leave Barcelona.
“Suarez is a man of character. He’s defiant, he’s a goalscorer, a guy who after leaving an extraordinary club like Barcelona wanted to continue to show that he is among the best in the world,” Simeone said.
Suarez was in tears after his goal helped Atletico Madrid clinch the Liga title, thanking the club for rescuing him.
THANKS FOR OPENING DOORS: SUAREZ
The Uruguayan, who moved to Madrid from Barcelona in August, thanked “Atletico for opening their doors to me.”
“I am filled with emotions,” the 34-year-old Uruguayan striker said after scoring in Atletico’s 2-1 victory in Valladolid.
He offered veiled criticism of his former club, who finished the season in third place.
“I had to live through a difficult situation, starting the season being under-appreciated and Atletico opened the door to give me the chance to show that I could still be a force,” Suarez said.
“That’s why I’m always going to be grateful to this great club for trusting me,” Suarez said through his tears.
“Many people have suffered with me, my wife, my children, every day,” he said.
“I’ve been in football for so many years and I think this is the year they have endured the most.”