Coach Diego Simeone reveals why he cried after beating Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid's coach Diego Simeone praised the team's collective belief and effort following an emotional victory over Real Madrid.

Atletico Madrid created a memorable night at Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano by defeating Real Madrid 5-2 on September 27. This was not only an intense Madrid derby but also a historic moment for Spanish football, as it was the first time in 75 years that Atletico scored five goals against their city rivals.

Atletico Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone praised the team’s belief and collective effort after the win.

“Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world, and today we had to play an outstanding match,” Simeone said. “From the start, we knew where we could hurt them, using wing sprints with Nico Gonzalez, Pablo Barrios, Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone… stretching the defense and opening space for Sorloth inside to create chances. I think, apart from the two goals conceded, the whole team performed very well.”

Atletico had only won 1 out of 6 matches this season across all competitions, and Simeone, now in his 14th season with the club, was visibly moved, shedding tears on the bench in the final minutes. “There are so many emotions inside me,” he said. “The season started tough, and there has been a lot of quiet effort from those less visible, so this result is wonderful.”

Simeone praised the team’s approach to the game: “The key point was the unity and belief in our style of play. We read the game well, and the fans are happy because we beat a top opponent who usually concedes very few goals.” The Argentine coach especially praised Alvarez, who scored twice and played a crucial role: “Julian is dedicated to the team and the club, and he is very talented. He works hard, contributes not only offensively but also in the overall play. We need him, must take care of him, and hope he stays long-term with the club.”

Looking back on the difficult start, Simeone called for calm and patience: “When you lose, it’s hard to explain because everything sounds like an excuse. There are 8 new players this season, 7 last season, so it’s not easy to find rhythm. I think we deserved more, but started with few results. We conceded many goals, but I believe the team is on the right path. Just keep working hard and trust what we are building, and things will get better.”

This win moved Atletico up to 4th place with 12 points, while Real Madrid remains top with 18 points, 2 points ahead of Barcelona, who still have one game in hand.

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