There are many in Madrid who disagree with Rodrigo de Paul’s assessment that it has been a good season at Atletico Madrid, but they have qualified for the Champions League again. It continues Diego Simeone’s run of qualifying for Europe’s elite competition in every full season he has been in charge.

It’s a run that is in to its 12th year, and keeps Atletico in elite company, as one of six sides that have been there in all of those competitions. Barcelona and Real Madrid are ever-present, as are Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City say Marca.

Diego Simeone: “I am the first one who wants to become champion, have no doubt about it, but it’s not easy, and we have to value what we have.” pic.twitter.com/Ob3n7EcQY7

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) May 16, 2024

All of those sides traditionally have a much larger budget than Atletico, as is illustrated by the competitions themselves. Between them, Bayern, PSG and City have been responsible for 21 of the last 24 league titles should Pep Guardiola’s side go on to win the Premier League this weekend. Atletico managed to crack the duopoly in 2021 in Spain for the second time in a decade, but Simeone’s ability to avoid falling out of the top four in a down year over that period is perhaps his second greatest achievement.

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