Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has explained why his team was eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup despite securing a 1-0 victory over Botafogo in their final Group B match on Monday.
The Spanish giants finished with six points from their group matches but failed to advance to the Round of 16 due to an inferior goal difference, with Botafogo and Paris Saint-Germain progressing as the top two teams from what Simeone described as "the most difficult group" in the tournament.
Simeone Defends Team's Performance
Speaking at his post-match interview, the Argentine tactician defended his team's performance in the competition, suggesting that the quality of opposition in their group was exceptionally high.
"People will say that we got knocked out, but it was the most difficult group, and we are out on goal difference," Simeone stated. "We are used to this. We have Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga and we always qualify for the Champions League."
He further emphasized the caliber of teams they faced: "We had a difficult group, with the winners of the Champions League and the Libertadores. And we had the same points as them... But yes, we are calm. We know what we have to improve on."
The elimination marks a disappointing outcome for Atletico Madrid, who had hoped to make a deeper run in the expanded Club World Cup format. Despite their exit, Simeone's men demonstrated their competitive spirit by defeating the Copa Libertadores champions in their final match.
This result adds to the growing list of European powerhouses facing challenges in the new Club World Cup format, highlighting the increasing competitiveness of clubs from different confederations on the global stage.
Meanwhile, the tournament continues with Real Madrid still in contention after their 3-1 victory over Pachuca, though that match has sparked controversy with FIFA opening an investigation following the game.
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