Atlético Madrid captain Koke gave a scathing assessment of his team's season following their 5-1 defeat to Villarreal in the final round of the Spanish league. The experienced midfielder did not hide his deep dissatisfaction with the results of Los Colchoneros, who missed out on a third-place finish in La Liga. This is reported by Goal.com .
The 2025-26 season ended in a nightmare for Atlético Madrid at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Diego Simeone's side needed a win to overtake Villarreal and secure a top-three spot, but they suffered a heavy defeat instead. For Koke, this result was the logical conclusion to a domestic campaign that failed to meet the standards expected of the Metropolitano side.
In an interview with Movistar+, the 34-year-old expressed his frustration with the team's lack of consistency: "It leaves a bitter taste. The Champions League was exciting, there was a penalty shootout in the Cup, but in La Liga, we were a disaster. We couldn't compete for the title. We should have been much higher in the table; this result must serve as a lesson for next season."
Despite the captain's harsh words, Diego Simeone took a more positive view of his team's overall efforts. The Argentine coach noted reaching the Champions League semi-finals and the Copa del Rey final as signs of progress. According to him, the team played 61 matches, and the season was between "good and very good."
Simeone also spoke about the intense pressure in modern football, admitting he feels the same fatigue as Pep Guardiola. "I read Guardiola's words at the press conference yesterday. Even though I haven't won as many trophies as him, I felt very close to his story. Playing every three days, managing the group, and being constantly in the spotlight creates a snowball effect that never stops," the coach added.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
