Porto 2-1 Atletico Madrid: Diego Simeone's side fail to reach Europa League
- Published
Simeone has guided Atletico to two Champions League finals
Atletico Madrid were knocked out of Europe altogether thanks to a 2-1 loss at Porto in the Champions League.
They hoped to reach the Europa League after Champions League elimination last week in a draw with Bayer Leverkusen.
But goals from Mehdi Taremi and Stephen Eustaquio helped Porto win despite Ivan Marcano's own goal in added time.
It is the first time Diego Simeone's team have finished bottom of a Champions League group since he took charge in 2011.
They have only four wins from their past 12 games in all competitions and are third in La Liga, nine points behind leaders Real Madrid.
"They were better. They beat us well. We are deservedly last in the group," Simeone told Movistar.
"We have to learn. Europe is behind us, La Liga is coming and we have a game on Sunday where we have to pick ourselves up."
Leverkusen's 0-0 draw with second-placed Club Bruges pushed Atletico to the bottom of Group B on their head-to-head record with the German club.
The two previous times they were knocked out in the Champions League group stage - in 2009-10 and 2017-18 - Atletico went on to win the Europa League.
"We did not deserve to reach the last 16 or even the Europa League. If you only win one group game then that's what you get," Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann told Movistar.
"Now we have to focus hard, work, shut our mouths and fight. We are a difficult team to face if we believe it, we all work, if we all row in the same direction with the coach.
"We're all proud to work with him and at this club but we have to show it on the pitch."
From old pick-ups to the fastest car on the planet: Top Gear is back with brand-new tests!
A family of loveable rogues in the Welsh valleys! The Tuckers returns for a third series, available now on BBC iPlayer
