Diego Simeone (foto: //)
Diego Simeone says Atlético Madrid are going to the 2025 Club World Cup to win it, outlining his goals after a difficult season and Champions League disappointment.
Diego Simeone has made his intentions crystal clear ahead of the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States: Atlético Madrid are going to compete to win it. Speaking to La Nación, the Argentine coach embraced the challenge of the expanded tournament and the opportunity it presents to make history with a club that, curiously, once became world champions without ever winning the European Cup.
“It’s a major challenge for us, and we’re going to win the Club World Cup – that’s our objective,” said Simeone. He also acknowledged the strength of Atleti’s group in the tournament, which includes the Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo and the Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. “We’ve been drawn into a very tough group,” he added.
Atlético’s appearance in the 2025 edition is seen by many as a chance to make amends after a disappointing season in which they finished third in LaLiga, reached the Copa del Rey semifinals, and were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16.
Simeone did not hide the emotional toll of the European exit, particularly since it came against Real Madrid. “I have to be honest – this one hurt, it hurt a lot,” he admitted. “After 14 years at the club, the responsibility feels heavier. Wins don’t bring joy anymore, just relief. Why? Because after all this time, the only thing I care about is winning titles.”
Reflecting on the campaign, he compared it to the 2016 Champions League final, when Atlético came close but fell short again. “From October to February, we had a great season. But by March, everything collapsed in a single week. It felt like the building we had constructed just fell apart,” he said.
Simeone also commented on competing with Real Madrid and Barcelona over the years. “They’ve won 34 of the last 40 league titles. So yes, it’s extremely difficult to become champions. But what we’ve built is stability – and that’s our weapon,” he said. “You can’t lose that if you want to stay close, stay competitive, and eventually win.”
To wrap up, he addressed Atleti’s European consistency. “Ask any Atlético fan: would you trade our stability for one extra title and several seventh-place finishes? They’d say no. Only six teams in Europe have qualified for 13 straight Champions League campaigns, and we’re one of them. That’s not mediocrity. That’s the only path to greatness.”