If you don’t like it buy your own club, says Atletico chief after CL exit
MADRID: Atletico Madrid fans who were critical of coach Diego Simeone’s tactics should go out and buy their own club and pick their own starting 11, president Enrique Cerezo said on Friday ater his club’s Champions League quarter-final exit to RB Leipzig.
Cerezo was disappointed with the 2-1 defeat to the unfancied German side but, whilst admitting there was plenty of criticism at the moment for Simeone, he added that he was not paying much atention to the dissenting voices.
“Simeone is not untouchable and many disagreed with him yesterday. He is the one who picks the team and if you don’t like it then go and buy your own club, build your own team and choose your own 11,” Cerezo said.
Simeone is Atletico’s second-longest serving coach of all time and has a contract until 2022 with the club, who he has taken to two Champions League finals, two Europa League triumphs plus a La Liga title and one Copa del Rey.
Atleti have also finished in Spain’s top three in the last eight campaigns.
“We are remaining calm, the game didn’t go as planned and we have to go home but we’re relaxed about everything else. I think we still have a good team, it wasn’t our night,” Cerezo told reporters.
“The fans are frustrated and it’s bad because the truth is we weren’t expecting a result like that. But that’s football, these things happen.
“I think we have had a very good season, we’ve finished in the top three in La Liga and qualified for the Champions League which is no easy thing to do.”
Simeone said Atletico were weighed down by the pressure and intensity of a long season.
“We didn’t have that physical sharpness or rhythm,” said Simeone aterwards.
“At the end of a season with so much pressure, so much need to get into the Champions League, and the need to integrate new players.
“We came with a lot of hope. The feeling is a lot of biterness but I know the players gave everything. They gave it their all.”
Questions will be asked about Simeone’s future and his ability to turn this Atletico side into winners again, while sticking to his defensive style of play.
“I have nothing to say to anyone about what we did this season. It’s a good season, third in La Liga, quarter-finalists in Champions League,” Simeone said.
“Next season will be tough, very tough.” Simeone admited Leipzig were the beter team and deserved to go through to the semis.
“They were beter, faster,” he added. “We gave everything and we leave with dignity, with an opponent who deserves their victory.”