Atletico Madrid are facing a battle to retain their top four spot in La Liga this season.
With the Spanish top flight set to miss out on a extra place in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, only the top four sides will qualify.
Following a 3-0 home defeat to Barcelona, Atletico Madrid head into the international break in fifth, one point behind Athletic Club.
With nine league games remaining, there is work for Diego Simeone and his players to do, alongside a quarter final clash with Borussia Dortmund in this season’s competition.
The club have finished inside the top four in all 11 of Simeone’s full seasons in charge in the Spanish capital but the Argentinian knows the situation is tight.
“In the league we have to keep moving forward. We need to improve.”, as per reports from Diario AS.
“Now we will rest. It was an intense January and February and we prepare for the visit to Villarreal. The championship will dictate to us where we finish.”
Simeone’s comments indicate his view of Atletico Madrid needing points to be dropped elsewhere to force their way back into the top four ahead of a trip to Villarreal on April 1.
