Simeone wanted Atleti to finish top
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone wanted his side to win their Europa League encounter against Viktoria Plzen in order to top their group and avoid a tricky draw.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
Unfortunately, Los Colchoneros lost 1-0 in the game and even managed to get Diego Costa sent off for some violent behaviour.
But they were also dominant in every department and were only let down by some poor finishing in the game.
Despite having qualified for the round of 32, Simeone admitted that the reigning champions wanted to top their group as a matter of pride and also to ensure an easy draw. Having finished second, they could now draw the likes of Chelsea, Ajax and Benfica - those teams that finished third in the Champions League group stages.
"We would have liked to have finished on top of the Europa League group. I wish we had played in the first half like we did in the second," he was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.
"We deserved a draw in the final stretch, but it wasn't meant to be. We'll challenge whoever we draw in the next round."
"We had a very bad first half. We didn't have any passion and were unable to produce.
"If you don't have the right attitude, you don't play well. In the second half the team was better.
" The team did what they needed to do and we could have tied the game. I think we deserve a 1-1 draw against Viktoria Plzen.
"I saw what happened on the play in which Diego was sent off. There was fighting in the area, but I didn't exactly see what happened."
They return to La Liga action with a match against lowly Deportivo la Coruna on Sunday night. The draw for the knockout stages will take place on December 20.