Diego Simeone Sets Sights on Finishing LaLiga Season Strongly

Diego Simeone talks about Atletico's focus on finishing the LaLiga season strongly and their preparations for the upcoming Club World Cup.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is focused on ending the season strongly, despite the team's LaLiga title hopes being dashed.

With four games left, Atletico sits third in the standings, 12 points behind leaders Barcelona and eight points behind second-placed Real Madrid. The team will host Real Sociedad on Saturday before heading to the US for the Club World Cup.

Atletico Madrid's title hopes may be dwindling due to their head-to-head record against rivals, but manager Diego Simeone is prioritizing the remaining league games.

“We have to finish these last four games the best way possible,” Simeone emphasized, cautioning against distractions from the upcoming Club World Cup, which starts on June 14th. “It's not so easy [to think about the Club World Cup], because the focus is not the same.”

“We have the responsibility, especially playing in front of our fans, so let's hope that they will demand more from us tomorrow because obviously that demand will make us enter the game better and hopefully it will lead us to give our all.”

❝Imanol has done a spectacular job since he took charge of Real Sociedad. The team has a totally defined brand❞.

— Simeone 🎙 pic.twitter.com/uDjlfUyQA1

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 9, 2025

Atletico Madrid's form declined significantly in the second half of the season.

Simeone reflected on the team's performance, saying, “I think we competed very well in LaLiga until February or March.” The team had a strong start, suffering only one defeat in their first 19 matches, but struggled to maintain momentum thereafter.

“The game that probably hurt us the most was (a 2-1 loss) at Getafe. After that came the elimination from the Champions League, then (a defeat against) Barcelona in LaLiga.

“(Until) that moment the feeling was that the team was doing very well. I hope we can finish these four games in the best way to obviously, at least in the league, compete from the place we need to be.”

When asked if the team's decline in the final stretch of the season had left a bad taste, Simeone disagreed.

“I see that the team is trying to improve, giving their all so that things go as well as possible and, well, we're focusing on a good performance tomorrow,” Simeone said, highlighting the team's current focus on their upcoming match.