Atletico Madrid was in the race for a Treble mid -March this season, a rare achievement for Los Colchoneros, but saw how their progress in all three major competitions in pieces of three weeks fell into pieces. Atletico is on track to finish third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, but President Enrique Cerezo was not impressed by their progress.
Manager Diego Simeone has always pointed out quickly that the budget he works with a budget of about half of the Clasico duo. He then told Diario after their victory over Real Betis on Sunday that closing the gorge to the top two is not easy.
“The club, with the opportunity to grow, participating in the club World Cup, Always in the Champions League, is fantastic for the club and its growth. The Demands Increase; It's a Tournament Where Real Madrid and Barcelona Play Every Years Not Easy, WeWe's not, WeWe's not, WeWe's not, WeWEs, WeWEs, WeWARS, WE WERE's not Easy, WeWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEWARS, WEREARS, WEWARS, WEREARS, WEREARS, WEREARS, WEREARS, WERARS, WERARARS, WERARARS, WERARARS, WERARSY. Theoretically third; [build up the excitement]You and us, and in the end the distance is clear. '
El Cholo was also clear that Atletico were the best challengers with which Real Madrid and Barcelona have had to do for the past four decades.
“We don't always finish third; we also finished twice, and we won twice, competing with Madrid and Barcelona. In the 40 years between 1984 and today Athletic Club won one competition, Deportivo won one, Valencia won two and we have won three. There must be a reason.”
“We almost want to win, but we also appreciate what we have achieved.”
In the meantime, defender Robin Le Normand, one of their big money movements last summer, told Marca after the same competition that they cannot reject third.
“It's fine. It is normal for us to demand from us considering the team we have. We have not been far behind, we have fought in every competition. After all, it is football. We have to appreciate third place, although we want more.
Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo, however, was not that forgiving. In his eyes, the Atletico season has gone 'terrible'.
“I don't know, it has been a disaster. The truth is that we had bad luck on some occasions, and at other times we played very badly. But hey, the team is the same that started the first season; it has had his ups and downs, but in the end the truth we have done terribly,” he told El Desmarque, as cited.
“We could have had three very important opportunities to win, but we have practically confirmed with third place.”
Three days later, Cerezo soften his discourse somewhat softened during an interview with Cadena Ser. While he withdrew from the word disaster, he was not willing to 'appreciate' third place.
“We didn't have a good season. It seemed that we had everything in our hold, and everything slipped away in two or three games. That does not mean that the season was a disaster, it felt insufficient.”
The third place certainly seems to be the basic expectation for Atletico every year, but it also means that achieving their goal also feels like little to celebrate. Cerezo's answers perhaps suggest that the hierarchy at Atletico expects more from Simeone and the team, but it is an incredibly difficult question with such a difference in resources. Simeone has been a guarantee of Champions League football for Atletico since arrival, but with the grass always greener on the other side, there is a part of the Rojiblanco support that is wondering or another manager may be more of a challenge for the Big Two.