Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has insisted he will not leave the club after the Spanish side were knocked out of the Champions League.
The LaLiga outfit faced Bayern Leverkusen in their fifth match of the 22/23 Champions League group stage. They needed a win to keep their chances of advancing to the knockout stages of the Champions League alive.
But Atlético de Madrid could not get the three points and settled for a draw. They could have won the match in stoppage time when the referee awarded them a penalty after Leverkusen touched the ball inside the area.
Yannick Carrasco, who had scored Atlético’s first goal of the game, stepped forward to take the penalty but his effort was stopped. Saul Nigez’s header from the rebound hit the crossbar and Atlético de Madrid won.
Diego Simeone insists that he will not leave Atlético de Madrid despite the elimination of CL
Speaking after the match, Simeone insisted that he will not leave Atletico Madrid. The Argentine strategist said that he will stay at the club to deliver things they need, such as glory in the Champions League.
Simeone also described the moment as the most difficult as Atletico Madrid, for the second time in the last 10 years, failed to qualify for the round of 16.
“It is the hardest moment but I am going to continue insisting that this club get something we need, such as the Champions League,” Simeone said.
The result of their game against Bayer Leverkusen leaves them third in Group B with five points from five games. The Spanish team has one win, two draws and two losses in the Champions League this season.
They are five points behind Club Brugge, who lead Group B with 10 points. Atlético is also four points behind Porto, who sit second on nine points. With just one match remaining for them in the competition, Atletico will be unable to bridge the gap between the top two teams.
If they had beaten Leverkusen, Atlético de Madrid would have added seven points in five games. That would leave them just two points behind Porto, who they will face in their final group game.
For its part, Atlético de Madrid occupies third place in the LaLiga points table, behind Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Simeone’s men have 23 points in 11 games with seven wins, two draws and two losses.
Atletico are eight points behind Real Madrid and five points behind second-place Barcelona.
