Simeone remains positive after Atletico Madrid's 1-0 defeat to Leganes, ending 15-game winning streak

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone praised his players for their effort despite a disappointing 1-0 loss at lowly Leganes on Saturday, which brought an end to their historic 15-game winning streak.

Simeone expressed frustration over Atletico's missed opportunities, as the team dominated possession with over 65% and hit the woodwork three times, alongside multiple goal attempts, including a penalty miss by Antoine Griezmann in added time.

"The team generated enough situations to have had a different scoreline," Simeone said in the post-match press conference. "We started with a lot of energy, with key plays in which we could have found the goal. In the second half, they made good use of the dead ball, and after they scored, they defended better, with humility. We found it difficult to overcome that."

While acknowledging the missed penalty, Simeone credited Leganes for their solid defense. "We had that penalty, but Leganes did very well. It was our turn to lose."

Despite the setback, Simeone remains unconcerned about its impact on his players' mindset, considering it their first defeat in nearly three months. Atletico's remarkable 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions had set a new club record, surpassing Simeone's own 13-match streak from the 2011-2012 season.

"When you get used to winning, it's harder to lose because it's very nice. Obviously, it hurts to lose, but it's part of the way and you have to accept it," Simeone said. "We had 15 extraordinary games, with the great joy of having generated the best record in the history of Atletico. The journey was fantastic, and I can only say positive things about my players' huge effort to achieve that. Today, I stick with their performance that was good and hope we can keep playing well moving forward."

Atletico remains atop the La Liga standings with 44 points, one point ahead of second-placed Real Madrid and six clear of Barcelona in third, both with a game in hand. Real Madrid hosts Las Palmas on Sunday, while Barcelona plays at Getafe later on Saturday.

SportsLigue