Atletico Madrid had been within the operating for a treble halfway by way of March this season, an uncommon feat for Los Colchoneros, however watched as their progress in all three main competitions fell to items within the area of three weeks. Atletico are on track to complete third behind Actual Madrid and Barcelona, however President Enrique Cerezo was not impressed with their progress.
Supervisor Diego Simeone has at all times been fast to level out that the price range he’s working with a price range of round half of the Clasico duo. He advised Diario AS after their win over Actual Betis on Sunday that closing the hole to the highest two is just not straightforward.
“The membership, with the chance to develop, taking part within the Membership World Cup, at all times within the Champions League, is incredible for the membership and its progress. The calls for improve; it’s a event the place Actual Madrid and Barcelona play yearly, so it’s not straightforward. In recent times, we had been at all times theoretically third; final 12 months we completed fourth, however trying again, Athletic Membership is rising, Villarreal is rising, and it’s not really easy to get near Madrid and Barcelona, however we strive. We inflate the balloon collectively [build up the excitement], you and us, and in the long run, the gap is obvious.”
El Cholo was additionally clear that Atletico have been the perfect challengers that Actual Madrid and Barcelona have confronted during the last 4 a long time.
“We don’t at all times end third; we’ve additionally completed second twice, and we’ve received twice, competing with Madrid and Barcelona. Within the 40 years between 1984 and at the moment, Athletic Membership received one league, Deportivo received one, Valencia received two, and we received three. There should be a purpose.”
“We wish to get near profitable, however we additionally worth what we’ve achieved.”
Robin Le Normand: ‘Now we have to worth third place’
In the meantime defender Robin Le Normand, one in every of their big-money strikes final summer season, advised Marca after the identical sport that they can not dismiss ending third both.
🚨 Enrique Cerezo: “Perhaps I’ll inform you one thing—with permission from my buddy Laporta. Perhaps it’s extra possible that Lamine involves Atlético de Madrid than Julián goes to Barcelona (laughs).”@ellarguero/@Objetivoatleti pic.twitter.com/6sjKPzfwDB
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) Could 20, 2025
“It’s high-quality. It’s regular that they’re demanding from us given the squad we’ve got. We haven’t been far behind, we’ve fought in each competitors. In any case, it’s soccer. Now we have to worth third place, despite the fact that we would like extra. There are opponents who demand rather a lot from us and who additionally wish to win. That shouldn’t maintain us again; reasonably, we needs to be centered on pushing ourselves and persevering with to push ourselves to hopefully win a title at some point.”
Atletico Madrid President – ‘It’s been a catastrophe’
Nevertheless Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo was not fairly as forgiving. In his eyes, the Atletico season has gone ‘terribly’.
“I don’t know, it’s been a catastrophe. The reality is that we’ve had dangerous luck on some events, and at different instances we’ve performed very badly. However hey, the workforce is similar one which began the primary season; it’s had its ups and downs, however in the long run, the reality is that we’ve accomplished terribly,” he advised El Desmarque, as quoted by Relevo.
💣🚨 JUST IN: Álex Baena was seen in Madrid tonight at an occasion additionally attended by Julián Álvarez, De Paul, and Riquelme. 👀@inakivdl
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) Could 20, 2025
“We might have had three crucial possibilities to win, however we virtually confirmed with third place.”
Enrique Cerezo nuances discourse
Three days later, Cerezo considerably softened his discourse throughout an interview with Cadena SER. Whereas he backed away from the phrase catastrophe, he was not keen to ‘worth’ third place both.
“We haven’t had a great season. It appeared like we had the whole lot inside our grasp, and in two or three video games, the whole lot slipped away. That doesn’t imply the season has been a catastrophe, it felt inadequate.”
Distinction in ambition between Diego Simeone and Atletico?
Third place definitely looks like the bottom expectation for Atletico yearly, nevertheless it additionally implies that reaching their goal looks like little to rejoice too. Cerezo’s solutions maybe counsel that the hierarchy at Atletico count on extra from Simeone and the squad, however it’s an extremely tough ask with such distinction of sources. Simeone has been a assure of Champions League soccer for Atletico since arriving, however with the grass at all times greener on the opposite aspect, there’s a portion of the Rojiblanco assist that ponder whether one other supervisor would possibly be capable to mount extra of a problem to the large two.