10th May, 2012
Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone, was beaming with pride after leading the team to UEFA Europa League glory on Wednesday.
The entire team; the players and other officials celebrated their feat till early today.
And, the 42-year-old Argentine, who took up the Atletico reins in December, oversaw a 3-0 victory over Primera Division rivals, Athletic Bilbao, in Bucharest as Los Rojiblancos picked up the trophy for the second time in three seasons.
Simeone told Spanish television channel Telecinco: “I’m happy for the players, the people, and because on Thursday the children can go to school with the Atletico shirt, and this is the most wonderful thing that can happen.
“I am very happy for Atletico Madrid. Very happy, very grateful to the players, my coaches, the physios, doctors. Were it not for them, the team could not respond in this way. They have a reason to celebrate.
“We showed what Atletico are about, a fast team, strong defensively and I’m very proud of this achievement.”
Comparing the success to his 1998 UEFA Cup win as an Inter Milan player, Simeone said: “Winning is always wonderful. As a player, it is more enjoyable because you’re on the field. You can scream, run around. As a coach you have to keep calm.”
Radamel Falcao scored two first-half goals for Atletico last night and Diego struck late on to seal a convincing triumph.
Athletic coach, Marcelo Bielsa, felt the scoreline flattered Simeone’s side.
“The margin of their victory was not deserved,” he said. “The difference was exaggerated, it was not in proportion to what I saw. What happened on the pitch from my point of view is that they scored three goals and had eight chances; we had nine and scored none.”