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Simeone To Ponder Upon Future At Atletico After Champions League Final Defeat

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Two champions league final defeats in three seasons have forced Diego Simeone to give a second thought about his future at Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid clinched their eleventh Champions League title by outplaying Atletico Madrid 5-3 on penalties at the San Siro stadium on Sunday.

Real Madrid looked the stronger side during the first half first with Sergio Ramos giving them the lead after just 15 minutes. Toni Kroos whipped in a well-timed cross to find Bale who headed the ball for Sergio Ramos to tap the loose ball into the net.

However, Diego Simeone’s smart move to bring in super-sub Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco changed the dynamics of the game. Carrasco fired from close range to pull one back for Atletico Madrid in the 79th minute. This goal could have been the match decider had Antoine Griezmann not shot the penalty against the crossbar in the 47th minute.

Both the clubs missed some close chances with Atletico Madrid stepping up the gas much higher in the second half and the extra-time. The cross-town rivals were level after 120 minutes of action at San Siro with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the decider in the penalty shootouts.

Both the sides had chances to score in the extra-time period but lacked the finishing touch and eventually the match had to to be decided on penalty shootouts.

Juanfran failed to score the 4th spot-kick for Atletico Madrid, hitting his shot against the post. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the last one for Madrid to seal his third Champions League title and eleventh for the club.

“No one remembers the team that loses and it’s a failure that is the only way to look at it. We will just have to go home and lick our wounds. And I need to go home and think,” Simeone informed the media after the final.

“It’s a moment for me to think about things. When you give everything and it’s not enough it’s hard. These have been three wonderful years but I am not happy tonight. I do not know which hurts more, this final or the last one. I just feel for the people who have come to watch us,” he added.

However, the former Argentina midfielder informed that he has not yet given a thought about leaving the club.

Diego Simeone has a huge contribution behind Atletico Madrid’s success in recent times. The 46-year-old was appointed as the new manager in the year 2011. He contributed a lot in changing the entire game philosophy and developing a team with a strong defensive unit which at the same time is deadly on the counter.

Simeone never blamed luck for his team’s disappointing defeat against the cross-town rivals. He however praised Real Madrid’s performance and stressed on the fact that Real Madrid won the battle of nerves.

“I don’t believe in injustice in football. Real Madrid was better than us albeit in the penalty shoot-out. The players were tremendous. I told them not to cry after the game because when you give everything there is no need for tears,” Simeone said.

“We have to congratulate Real Madrid. We did not start the game well. In the end, both teams were so tired.”

Anirban Das
Anirban Das's journey to Delhi via Kolkata involves football, music, curiosity (which one day can kill the cat) and food. Following global football opens up an infinite space within him in both the conscious and subconscious self, away from the din and bustle of the madding crowd. Supports Manchester United & Barcelona

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