Atletico Madrid have reached two Champions League finals and four semi-finals under Diego Simeone, but the Argentine is yet to get his hands on the biggest prize in club football
Atletico Madrid's Argentine coach Diego Simeone attends a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League semi final first leg football match against Arsenal at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on April 28, 2026. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
Atletico Madrid's Argentine coach Diego Simeone attends a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League semi final first leg football match against Arsenal at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on April 28, 2026. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
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Diego Simeone admits he is “dreaming” of finally enjoying success on his “extraordinary” Champions League journey. Atletico Madrid boss Simeone, who celebrated his 56th birthday on the eve of their showdown with Arsenal, has now reached four semi-finals but never won the trophy.
But Simeone still believes the underdogs can succeed this time and warned they can “hurt” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s men. Simeone said: “It's extraordinary that Atletico Madrid is in a Champions League semi-final again after nine years and after doing it for the fourth time in 14 years, if I'm not mistaken.
“That really is wonderful, it's incredible, incredible. And I think that faith, that excitement, that contagiousness that our people transmit to us will do us a lot of good.
“We are going to face a tough game with a very good opponent and with a set-piece strategy as you well said at the beginning that is very well worked and well, here we go with all the excitement.
“I always say that dreaming is good but reality is what happens on earth. And what happens on earth is what we do and what God wants. So that's how we behave.
“Honestly pressure no, there's no pressure. There's responsibility. There is the excitement of being close to a huge goal that the club has never achieved. And of course there is a special excitement.
“And we have to prepare well, we’re going to play the game we want to play, the game we imagine and as I always say, take the game where we want so we can hurt them.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21: Gabriel of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on October 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Arsenal hammered Atletico Madrid 4-0 earlier this season(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
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“It will be a hard game but we believe we can stop them. They are a good team with good set-pieces. But I think football doesn't owe anyone anything.
“Things are deserved and achieved and for that you have to work and seek them and obviously that lady luck also has to be behind you.”