Simeone: Difficult season is inspiring me

Atletico sit in sixth place in La Liga, nine points behind city rivals Real Madrid, but Simeone is driven to improve his side's fortunes.

"We need to improve,' Simeone said on Monday. 'We don't have the consistency we had wanted to have in La Liga but this drives me.

"When faced by adversity, I feel much more involved, more in my habitat. I love challenges.

"What matters is today. Destiny is what we want to make of it, with work, with perseverance and with an incredible willpower.

"We need to continue to improve and compete and after five years in the same club, it's not easy.'

He added: "I hope that next year we are able to prove to have the same energy and strength to compete until the end for everything.

"I always think about the positive things and 2016 was an important year for the club.

"You can win or lose but the important thing is the emotions you transmit to the fans and I think we have achieved that.'