Simeone's Atletico Madrid targeting first trophy in five years during Copa del Rey showdown
Following a tough battle against Barcelona to secure their first Champions League semi-final appearance in nine years on Tuesday, Simeone's team is beginning to hope once more.
A 2-1 loss at home was sufficient to advance them with a 3-2 aggregate victory, leaving the Metropolitano supporters breathing a sigh of relief as Atletico progressed to the final four, facing Premier League frontrunners Arsenal in the opening match in Madrid on April 29th.
Yet before turning attention to European matters, there is the upcoming final at La Cartuja stadium in Seville on Saturday.
Atletico seeks an 11th Spanish Cup triumph and their first since 2013, opposing Pellegrino Matarazzo's strong Basque outfit.
For Simeone, the current campaign could mark a significant shift.
The Argentine revolutionised Atletico upon joining mid-way through the 2011/12 season, leading to a ten-year period that included two Europa League victories, two Champions League final appearances, LaLiga titles in 2014 and 2021, plus the Copa in 2013.
Real Madrid thwarted Simeone's European dreams in the 2014 and 2016 finals, and once more in the 2017 semi-final, yet Atletico built a name as experts in elimination stages.
Lionel Messi's Barcelona side was knocked out twice in Champions League quarter-finals, with Chelsea, AC Milan, and Bayern Munich also succumbing to Atletico during that impressive streak.
However, after claiming the Europa League in 2018, the team's drive seemed to wane. The 2021 LaLiga success, achieved without crowds amid the pandemic, stands as their most recent piece of silverware.
In the subsequent years, Atletico went through eight campaigns without making a European semi-final or Copa final, leading to increased examination this season, Simeone's 14th, with four trophyless years and debates about the club's path.
League results have offered scant relief from the strain. Atletico holds fourth place in LaLiga, trailing leaders Barcelona by 22 points, and has been sidelined from the championship contention since January.
Still, cup competitions have ignited a sense of the old days.
Atletico ousted Lamine Yamal's Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals and in the Champions League, evoking recollections of their continental achievements from ten years back.
"Eliminating Barca in the Champions League quarter-finals is no simple task," Simeone remarked following Tuesday's encounter.
"We have confronted Messi's Barca and now Yamal's version, and we have prevailed."
"I have been with this club for 14 years. Witnessing the team battle on still thrills me. The squad has evolved, we have rebuilt from the ground up several times, and here we are again in the elite four in Europe. It is exhilarating to feature in a Champions League semi-final."
For supporters accustomed to hardship, the narrative unfolds predictably: a Copa final this Saturday, Arsenal next, and the potential for the grand finale in Budapest ahead. In line with Simeone's philosophy, focus remains on the immediate fixture.