Simeone faces fresh questions as Atletico's trophy drought reaches five seasons

MADRID: Atletico Madrid's Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal has intensified scrutiny over Diego Simeone's future after the Spanish club completed a fifth consecutive season without a trophy.

Atletico were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, going out 2-1 on aggregate, and the defeat prompted renewed questions about whether Simeone will remain in charge. When asked after Tuesday's loss if he had the strength to continue, the Argentine coach replied:

Not now, definitely not now

The response left uncertainty over his plans for the summer. Similar doubts have surfaced repeatedly during Simeone's 14-and-a-half years in charge of Atletico, particularly after painful eliminations in major competitions.

Among the most damaging setbacks of his tenure were the Champions League final defeats to city rivals Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016. After the second of those losses, which came on penalties at San Siro, Simeone came close to stepping away, saying it would be hard to lift the squad mentally after such a severe disappointment.

Questions over direction and identity

Those final defeats came during the strongest period of Simeone's reign. In the years since, Atletico have often struggled for consistency, although they did win La Liga in 2021 despite the challenge of competing domestically with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Speaking after the loss in London, Simeone said Atletico had made major progress as a club but acknowledged supporters expect more than deep runs in tournaments.

We've grown enormously in every aspect, we're a club recognised in Europe and the world

He added, "But the fans want to win. Getting to a semi-final isn't enough."

Since that league title, Atletico have been without silverware and have also wrestled with questions about their playing identity. Simeone has long been associated with a cautious approach, but he has said several times this season that his current side are stronger going forward than defensively. While that improvement was not enough to overcome Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, Atletico have shown attacking progress and that Simeone has adapted by pursuing a more expansive style while trying to retain the intensity that marked his most successful years.

Signs of progress despite disappointment

Even with pressure mounting and some supporters wondering whether a different coach might extract more from the squad, the season has also offered encouraging signs. Atletico reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since winning the competition under Simeone in 2013, though they were beaten on penalties by Real Sociedad in April.

The report also highlighted several individual developments. Simeone's son Giuliano has shown promise, Ademola Lookman has made an immediate impact since joining in January, and defender Marc Pubill has impressed to the point that he could be considered for Spain's 2026 World Cup squad.

Although Atletico fell short in Europe, their run to the semi-finals included a notable quarter-final victory over Barcelona, which gave fans some memorable moments. It also offered veteran players Antoine Griezmann and Koke what could be among their final opportunities to feature prominently on the biggest stage in club football.

Griezmann is leaving for MLS side Orlando City, while Koke's future is also unclear. Simeone urged supporters to back the departing forward in the closing games of the campaign and praised Koke's display.

I hope our fans give Antoine the backing he's earned, in these last few matches

He also said, "Koke was incredible, a masterclass in how to play football at his age."

Replacing Griezmann is expected to be one of Atletico's biggest tasks in the coming transfer window. Getting that decision right could help move the team closer to the success it is seeking, while another failed major investment like Joao Felix's 126 million euro ($148 million) transfer in 2019 would prolong the drought.

Whether Simeone will lead that next phase remains unresolved, but the report noted that whenever his future has come under doubt over the past decade and a half, he has always opted to stay.