Simeone: Atletico Having 'Very Good Season' Despite Recent Struggles

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone remains upbeat about the team's season despite a poor run of form, with a Copa del Rey semi-final clash against Barcelona looming.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has expressed his optimism about the team's season, despite a recent slump in form. The LaLiga club has experienced a challenging run, losing four and drawing one of their last five matches in all competitions.

A crushing 4-2 home defeat to Barcelona and a disappointing 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Espanyol have dealt a significant blow to Atletico's LaLiga title aspirations. The results have left Atletico nine points behind leaders Barcelona and six points adrift of second-placed Real Madrid, with only nine games remaining in the season.

❝FC Barcelona have a great courage to attack. We will have to try to isolate them from their potential❞.

— Simeone 🎙 pic.twitter.com/zJi15XVMsO

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 1, 2025

Despite Atletico Madrid's recent poor run of form, manager Diego Simeone remains upbeat about the team's season. Atletico has lost four and drawn one of their last five matches in all competitions, but Simeone emphasized that the LaLiga club is having a successful season.

The team's recent struggles have dealt a significant blow to their LaLiga title hopes. A 4-2 home loss to Barcelona and a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Espanyol have left Atletico nine points behind leaders Barcelona and six points adrift of second-placed Real Madrid with nine games remaining. However, Simeone's focus is on the upcoming Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barcelona, where the tie is evenly poised after a thrilling 4-4 draw in the first game.

Simeone shared his positive assessment of the team's season, highlighting their competitiveness in the Champions League and their performance in the league. “I'm talking about my feeling, the team is having a very good season, it competed very well in the Champions League (where they suffered a round of 16 exit) and is doing very well in the league. We are constantly taking it one game at a time,” Simeone told reporters. He emphasized the importance of maintaining their usual approach, saying, “We have to continue as we have always worked, with enthusiasm, joy, intensity. The same way we worked in the first game against Malaga.”

One Way Out: WIN. pic.twitter.com/TtxOlYsJZ0

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 1, 2025

Diego Simeone was questioned about the goals conceded in previous matches against Barcelona, and he offered a nuanced perspective on the challenge posed by their opponents. “It doesn't seem strange to me because the rival plays with the same intensity the whole game.”

Simeone acknowledged Barcelona's attacking prowess and emphasized the need for Atletico to navigate the game's critical moments effectively. “They are going to have goal situations, they play in a very brave way and we have to try to go through the best moments of the game and isolate them from that potential.”

On a positive note, Simeone confirmed that defenders Cesar Azpilicueta, Reinildo Mandava, and Javi Serrano are available for selection against Barcelona after overcoming fitness issues.