An angry Diego Simeone spoke to the press after Atlético Madrid wrapped up the 2025/26 season with an embarrassing 5-1 defeat to Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica to confirm fourth place in La Liga.
Post-match, Simeone was asked many questions about the future, including that of striker Julián Álvarez, who has not featured since Champions League semifinal defeat to Arsenal.
“That’s not a question for me, but for Julián,” Simeone responded. “He’s old enough to know what he’s going to do, and
I imagine he’s already made up his mind.”
Diego Simeone on conceding five goals
“We never managed to play the way we needed to. We weren’t good enough to finish third. We put in a tremendous effort all season long. After losing to Arsenal, the match against Celta was our best; we should have won it. Against Osasuna, they missed a lot of chances and we won; against Girona, it was the same. But this time they didn’t miss, every chance they had went in.
“It makes me stay alert. We’ve gotten used to finishing in that spot every year, third or fourth, which gets us into the Champions League, but we have to be careful. Real Sociedad and Athletic will be strong again, just like they’ve been for a long time. It’s not easy.”
Simeone on rating the season
“I was always terrible with grades; I didn’t do very well in school. We had a season that was somewhere between good and very good. Champions League semifinals, Copa del Rey final, a total of 61 matches… Villarreal plays very well and had a great La Liga season, but they only competed in a single tournament. We came close to catching them; we had some great moments, the match against Barcelona, the win over Madrid, lots of joy for our fans, even though everyone wants to be champions, not just to finish third.”
Simeone on 44 goals conceded, his highest league return
“The numbers speak for themselves, they’re harsh. We’ve conceded too many goals, and that doesn’t allow us to compete. In the Champions League, we scored a lot of goals, and that gave us a chance to get where we did, but we need to improve defensively, and that’s not just about the defenders and the goalkeeper, but the whole team.”
Simeone on Koke’s future
“It’s what we always talk about with him. When the season started, neither he nor I imagined he’d play as much as he has. But Cardoso got injured, then Barrios, and he stepped up to the challenge in the best way possible, as always. We need him, as I tell him all the time. There comes a point where his role on the team and in the locker room doesn’t matter, what matters is that he’s there. Hopefully we’ll have a good season next year and that he’ll be happy on the journey we take together.”
Simeone on the game
“We couldn’t respond from the start. I’m not going to explain it; there are things that can’t be explained. A team like Villarreal, which had all the chances it had and was able to capitalize on them, won. We ended up losing precisely because of our opponent’s decisiveness.”
Simeone on whether his players were motivated
“We were thrilled by the idea of finishing third, but we weren’t able to show what we were capable of. Villarreal had a season where they only played in La Liga, which makes it easier; we competed all the way to the Champions League semifinals and the Copa del Rey final. We had a big lead over Betis; if Real Sociedad or other teams had had a good season and stayed close, we would have had a tough time.
“It’s a wake-up call. It’s not easy to compete in the Champions League all the way to the semifinals, compete all the way to the Copa del Rey final, and still need to finish third. It was tough for us. If we want all that, we have to prepare better for next season.”
Simeone on who is responsible for preparing for next season
“It’s us (the coaches), just as it has been since I arrived.”
