Focus shifts to Champions League for Atletico Madrid after Copa del Rey final loss
The Argentine manager departed Seville feeling crushed and injured after his sides Copa del Rey final loss on Saturday to Real Sociedad, settled by the harshness of a penalty shootout.
Simeone guided Atletico to the Spanish cup victory in 2013, which feels like ages ago, and securing it once more would have provided an ideal boost to propel the team towards the Champions League semi final encounter with Arsenal.
Atletico have yet to claim that honour and they held genuine hope of achieving it this season, a hope that suffered a severe blow this past weekend.
Their most recent piece of silverware came with the La Liga title in 2021, spearheaded by Luis Suarez in the forward line.
Capturing the Copa would have allowed French forward Antoine Griezmann to leave with a winners medal, finally breaking the clubs long wait for success.
Under the Simeone regime, the side has gradually shed the tag of El Pupas, the cursed ones, a label stemming from their 1974 European Cup final defeat to Bayern.
Simeone assured that his squad could recover from the setback, which ended 4-3 on penalties following a tense 2-2 stalemate, with Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez failing from the spot for the Rojiblancos.
The manner in which we fought gives me reassurance, the manager stated, though it will demand work to prepare his players mentally for the Arsenal challenge, starting with the home leg in the Spanish capital on April 29.
I am not considering Arsenal right now, todays events pain me deeply. We had to triumph and we fell short, Simeone added.
The supporters do not require words from me, they want victories.
More than 30,000 Atletico supporters made the journey to Seville and returned disappointed.
Simeone had promised the team was prepared to conquer the Champions League following their midweek elimination of Barcelona, yet they could not pass the crucial examination against La Real.
We still possess the Champions League, an exciting matchup awaits, remarked Atletico midfielder Marcos Llorente, aiming to boost morale.
We must express gratitude to all, especially those who travelled to Seville, we feel their pain deeply. We need to raise our spirits.
Now for the exciting phase
Llorente emphasised that the group must move beyond the disappointment.
When defeat strikes, another contest arrives swiftly, he noted.
No opportunity to dwell on matters. This is immensely difficult for us, yet we must rise again, the thrilling stage lies ahead.
Right after the penalty drama, featuring two stops by Real Sociedad goalkeeper Unai Marrero and Pablo Marins decisive kick, Koke brushed away tears before delivering a comparable rallying call.
The experienced midfielder serves as one of the most astute figures at Atletico and he urged his colleagues to concentrate on upcoming opportunities.
We gave our all, poured our hearts into it, but it was not meant to be, the 34 year old shared.
That is the nature of the game, it stings, and we must press on.
Atletico represent a team that has rebounded from numerous setbacks to advance, such as losses to rivals Real Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals.
The Copa final defeat aches, but it seems minor compared to those painful memories.
With Real Madrid out of contention, should Atletico regroup and overcome Arsenal, that scenario cannot repeat for a third occasion.