Atletico were again left heart broken when they lost to their arch city rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final, a repeat of the defeat in 2014, and this time even more excruciating as they went out on penalty-shootouts.
To add to the club’s wounds, the man behind their success, Diego Simeone sent fearful tremors throughout the Rojiblancos camp when he suggested the possibility of an exit in his post-match press conference.But it seems he might just stay with the club, provided the Argentine manager is given the back-up to compete at a financial level with the likes of Bayern, PSG and Barcelona according to reports from AS.
The sadness within the players, fans and club officials alike was crystal clear after having their dream shattered in front of their eyes, but Simeone’s post-match interview was even more shocking as the usually high spirited, full-of-energy Atleti manager looked genuinely defeated, speaking with a heavy heart.
“What really hurts me is to see the hurt of the people who've paid to come here -- I feel a bit responsible that I wasn't able to give t hem what they wanted. That's what really hurts. I feel responsible for the fans who have bought their tickets", continuing: "the end of a cycle? I have to think about that".
Also read: Simeone reconsiders future at Atletico after Champions League defeat
Simeone is agreeably frustrated as he believes that the extent of improvement that the club has seen since his arrival in 2011 has not been reflected in their economic plans. He has put forward the condition for staying only if the club is ready to spend big to bring in world-class signings.
Atletico has been an exceptional under El Cholo, defying the money bridges which separate them from the big clubs, but have always fallen short somehow, evident in this Champions League campaign as well, as they defeated both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but could not get the better off Real’s star-studded squad.
Simeone wants a top striker
Atletico bosses have promised to use the €42million earned from the sale of Jackson Martínez to Chinese club Guangzhou on another striker, as Simeone feels the teams current attacking prowess is not good enough to fight for the honours against top teams.
Among the Argentine’s prime targets are Diego Costa and Nikolas Gaitan, the latter being top of his transfer list last summer. Costa has also been heavily linked with a return to the Calderon, and can bolster the team’s attack to a great extent.
Atletico CEO Gil Marín and president Enrique Cerezo are also prepared to offer the manager an improved, extended contract to compel him to stay, but El Cholo may just call it a day if not given the cue to shell out money in this transfer market.
