Diego Simeone has insisted his Atletico Madrid players to finish their LaLiga season at a peak and close the gap to the top after they shot in their pursuit of the title.
Atletico had really threatened to close this campaign for the top of the top for the top of the top, and even led the table in the half phase of the season.
A series of three games without a victory in March, as well as their exit from the Champions League to Real Madrid in the same month, they saw failure.
The Simeone team is third in the rankings, five points behind Madrid and another 12 behind leaders Barcelona, ​​who could already conquer the title on Wednesday.
Barca will be confronted with Espanyol on Thursday, but knows that if Madrid is unable to beat Mallorca on Wednesday, a 28th top-high-crown will be the Blaugranas.
Atletico make the trip to the Estadio El Sadar to face Espanyol in their penultimate road competition match, a team they have defeated in 12 of their last 13 games.
“In every season we take steps last year with the arrival of players, and next year we will do it in the same way, always think of improving,” said Simeone.
Atletico, together with Madrid, it is two team that represents at the Club World Cup, which takes place from 14 June to 13 July.
The extensive tournament of 32 teams is at stake in the United States with a reported $ 1 billion in prize money.
“The money at stake is for those who think of that competition,” said Simeone.
“For us it is a very nice tournament, it is exciting to represent Atletico, and we hope to get there in the best way.”
Simeone was also asked about Carlo Ancelotti, who will leave Madrid at the end of the season to become the new head coach of Brazil.
The Argentin has confronted Ancelotti 28 times with all the competitions in his management career and has won nine of those competitions.
Simeone has indeed suffered more defeats for Ancelotti (11) than any other manager with whom he is dealing with, with Luis Enrique Second on the list (nine defeats).
Ancelotti leaves Madrid as the most successful boss of the club, after he has won 15 major awards in two stints and will be replaced by Xabi Alonso.
“As a coach we all admire his work, not only for everything he has managed in Real Madrid, but also for his entire sports career,” Simeone added.
“I am an admirer of him. I love him very much, he knows that, and I wish him the very best.”