Atletico Madrid and its Argentine coach Diego Simeone often tasted the bitterness of disappointment, even during the golden era of the Spanish club. Atletico will face its English guest Arsenal on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, seeking revenge after its harsh 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Real Sociedad after their 2-2 draw in the King's Cup final nearly a week ago. Will the Spanish capital club be able to “break the jinx” this time?

Published on: 04/29/2026 - 18:56

Tens of thousands of Atletico Madrid fans traveled to Seville, where the cup final was held, only to return empty-handed, just as happened in the Champions League finals in 2014 and 2016 against their capital rival, Real Madrid.

Atletico has also never won the most important European competition, knowing that it had also lost the 1974 final.

However, this week, the Spanish capital club can take the first step towards a fourth final as it celebrates the 123rd anniversary of its founding, by facing Arsenal under the leadership of Spanish coach Mikel Arteta.

“The fans need to win.”

In its first home match after the King's Cup final disappointment, against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, Atletico fans received the team coldly.

Diego Simeone, the most decorated coach in the history of Atletico Madrid, said in the Seville final, saying: “The fans do not need messages (from me), what they need is victory.”

After beating Bilbao 3-2, which was only the second victory for Atletico in its last nine matches in all competitions, the atmosphere improved.

“We have to get over this shock and do our best to reach the final,” Argentine Julián Alvarez, Atletico striker, said on Monday.

An opportunity for compensation

The Arsenal match will provide an opportunity for immediate compensation, and by Wednesday, the atmosphere will be very enthusiastic, as it was in the quarter-final elimination match against Barcelona, ​​despite losing at home 1-2 in the first leg, benefiting from a 2-0 victory in the first leg.

Although Atletico is no longer playing in its former stronghold, Vicente Calderon, the Metropolitano Stadium is no less enthusiastic, and is considered more noisy, with its capacity increased.

In addition, it is clear that the new stadium, which opened in 2017, does not have a long history like its predecessor, as it will require time, matches, and performances of the highest levels on crazy evenings to build this history.

The Madrid newspaper AS wrote: “Congratulations to Atletico. If you win over Arsenal, the celebration will be perfect.”

Rojiblancos fans are among the most enthusiastic in Spain, and Simeone called on them to give his team the advantage over the English Premier League leaders.

“Atletico struggled to reach the semi-finals and final of the Champions League,” the 55-year-old coach explained.

He continued, "We have achieved this success thanks to the hard work and support of our fans. We need them now more than ever."

It is noteworthy that, when conditions are right, Atletico has proven its ability to crush any team at the Metropolitano Stadium. He swept Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, and achieved a huge victory at home over arch-neighbor Real Madrid 5-2 in the capital derby earlier this season.

These matches, along with many others, were supposed to put to rest the myth that Simeone's side played with the same dismal defensive style that had underpinned their success in the first half of his 14-year reign.

"Courage and heart"

But what is uncompromising, now, in the past, and always for Simeone, is his team’s enthusiasm, his seriousness at work, his competitive spirit, and his ability to withstand difficulties when necessary against stronger teams.

Simeone added, "We have reached this stage thanks to our competitive style, and nothing has stopped us so far."

The team's motto is "Courage and Heart", and even in attack, Atletico seek to inflict damage on the opposition with their strength and speed.

Giuliano Simeone, the coach's son, Marcos Llorente, and Norwegian Alexander Sorloth are dynamic and powerful strikers, while French star Antoine Griezmann is doing his best.

Simeone had joked with his 35-year-old striker, Griezmann, while sitting next to him in a recent press conference: “If you don’t run, you will be replaced tomorrow.”

For his part, striker Alvarez, who hit two balls against the crossbar during the 0-4 defeat to Arsenal in the unified group stage in October, confirmed that he is 100 percent ready, but the team will miss the active, injured midfielder Pablo Barrios.

"Both teams have improved a lot since then," Llorente said.

The victory over Athletic Bilbao may have been difficult, but it was the morale boost the team needed to go into the Arsenal match with confidence and belief.

"It's good to win again."

“It is good to win again after a series of defeats,” said Griezmann, Atletico’s all-time top scorer, who will leave the club next summer to join Orlando City in the American League.

He added, "It will be a very important match (against Arsenal). We have to be calm and relaxed, aware of our ability to win...".

He continued, "I am enjoying the last matches here. I hope to offer something special to the fans."

And as Simeone noted, despite all the effort and perseverance put in by his team, the gift they have to give is titles.

France 24/AFP

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