Simeone would rather win Europa League than lose Champions League final
The Atletico Madrid boss insisted he is motivated to win the Europa League after tasting Champions League defeat in the 2014 and 2016 deciders
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone said he would rather have a Europa League trophy than a Champions League final loss on his resume.
Simeone's Atletico host Portuguese visitors Sporting CP in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.
Atletico dropped down to the Europa League after failing to progress beyond the Champions League group stage this season.
The Spanish capital club are no stranger to Europe's second-tier competition, having claimed the trophy in 2009-10 and 2011-12, and Simeone insisted he is motivated to win a third crown after tasting Champions League defeat in the 2014 and 2016 deciders.
"It's normal people have their own opinions and that we're more motivated or less depending on the rival," Simeone, who led Atletico to the 2014 La Liga title, told reporters.
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