Revenge Over Real Madrid Not Motivating Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone insists revenge would be no factor if Atletico Madrid faced Real in the Champions League final.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone would be unwilling to use revenge as motivation if his side faces Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Simeone's side booked its place in the decider in Milan on May 28 despite a 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the second leg on Tuesday.
Atletico faces Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final, with the city rival having beaten his side 4-1 in the 2014 decider. Despite that, Simeone said he would happily face Zinedine Zidane's men, who are locked at 0-0 ahead of their second leg with City on Wednesday.
"I am happy," he said of potentially facing Madrid. "We want something else now but I don't believe in revenge. There are new chances in the life, not revenge. And this is another chance."
Antoine Griezmann's second-half goal proved decisive for Atletico, which progressed courtesy of the away goals rule as the club reached a second final in three years.
Simeone said his side's preparation would be better in 2016 than it was two years ago, when it faced Barcelona in a crucial La Liga clash a week beforehand.
"We will have the chance to better prepare for this final. That year we played a final against Barcelona one week and the following week another final against Real Madrid," he said. "We will have at least 15 days to work on this final. It doesn't guarantee anything at all but we will have both teams in better condition for one of the greatest events in the world."
Simeone's men are still in the race for the league title, level on points with leader Barca ahead of Sunday's trip to Levante.