Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is disappointed that the team will end the season without a trophy, but added that the campaign has still been positive for the club, BTA reported.
Atletico, third in La Liga and 12 points behind champions Barcelona, were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Barca and from the last 16 of the Champions League by Real Madrid, but are still hopeful of a successful performance at the Club World Cup in the United States next month, Simeone told reporters.
“My assessment of the season is positive“, Simeone told reporters ahead of Sunday's away game at Girona.
“We performed very well again until the semi-finals of the cup, we competed very well in The Champions League, one of the best we've played in. In La Liga we had ambitions until March; I felt this season was the closest we've come to fighting for the title. We're left with the disappointment of not winning any title, which is what the fans like... we're going to the Club World Cup, which will be a new tournament and we hope to respond the way we want to," Simeone added.
Simeone, who has won two La Liga titles with Atletico and two Europa League titles, said he was focused on finishing the league season well, with a draw with Girona enough to secure third place.
“We're still thinking about trying to play tomorrow with those who can perform best in the match. After this game we'll turn our focus to the Club World Cup,“ he added.