[ad_1]
MADRID (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone stated he by no means stopped believing they’d win the La Liga title, even within the midst of a stuttering run of ends in April, after his aspect lifted the trophy on Sunday.
Atletico clinched their eleventh title and their first since 2014 with a 2-1 comeback win at Actual Valladolid on Saturday however weren’t offered with the silverware till the presentation at their Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Atletico stayed on the summit from December till the top, pipping their bitter metropolis rivals Actual Madrid to the crown by two factors on the ultimate day.
Many individuals anticipated them to give up their lead once they took solely seven factors from 5 video games in April to let Actual, Barcelona and Sevilla right into a nail-biting race to the end.
However Simeone stated he believed greater than ever that his aspect have been going to do it after a 1-1 draw at Actual Betis.
“Every thing clicked after the sport with Betis. We had gamers out with coronavirus and accidents and it was very powerful, however after that day I may sense we have been shut,” he stated.
“With 4 video games to go I knew it wasn’t going to slide away from us, regardless that others have been nonetheless struggling to imagine.”
No followers have been allowed on the trophy presentation as a consequence of coronavirus restrictions though the membership inspired supporters to toast the title by waving Atletico flags from their automobiles and beeping their horns alongside the streets of the Spanish capital.
Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales handed the trophy to Atletico captain Koke, whereas metropolis mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida and regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso praised Simeone and his aspect for his or her achievement.
“Diego, successful trophies is not so onerous, essentially the most troublesome factor is altering historical past and that is what you’ve got executed,” stated Martinez-Almeida of the Argentine coach, who took over Atletico in December 2011 once they have been close to La Liga’s relegation zone and has led the group to win eight trophies.
(Reporting by Richard Martin; Enhancing by Toby Davis)
[ad_2]
supply
