Diego Simeone insisted that Atletico Madrid’s objective in this season’s Champions League is to reach the showpiece match in Munich on May 31.
Simeone has guided Atletico to two finals during his time in charge but has failed to win the trophy, with both defeats coming against rivals Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016.
Their best run in the competition since their last appearance in the tournament’s showpiece came in 2016-17, when they were beaten in the semi-finals by Los Blancos.
Simeone’s side face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday in their penultimate game of the group phase, sitting 11th in the 36-team standings on 12 points from six games.
Atletico are just a point adrift of the top eight and know two victories from their remaining fixtures could see them automatically qualify for the knockout stages.
But they come into the clash with Xabi Alonso’s side on the back of a defeat to Leganes in LaLiga, ending their club-record 15 game winning run across all competitions.
Asked how important the game was in their push for the top eight, Simeone said: “We will compete with our goal in mind.
“The club has never won this Champions League, and our objective is to reach that final, which is so desired and cherished by us.”
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— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 19, 2025
Leverkusen, meanwhile, are enjoying a winning streak of their own, emerging victorious in each of their last 12 encounters across all competitions.
Alonso’s side are fourth in the Champions League standings having won each of their last two fixtures in the competition after being hammered 4-0 by Liverpool.
Leverkusen are the opponent that Simeone has faced most often in the Champions League (eight games, all with Atletico Madrid).
He has lost (three) as many games as he has won (three) against the German side in the competition, but has never squared off against Alonso.
The Leverkusen boss guided the Werkself to a first Bundesliga title last season, while also going undefeated, earning praise from Simeone ahead of kick-off.
“Xabi is doing an excellent job, as he showed last season, and he is on track to repeat it,” Simeone said.
“He has a reference for how he saw football from the centre of the pitch, which is where it is best seen.
“He had great coaches (as a player). We will have to take the game in a direction where we think we can do the damage on Tuesday.”
