Diego Simeone confirms he will stay at Atletico Madrid

Updated 21/05/2017 at 18:09 GMT

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has confirmed that he will stay at the club next season as he addressed fans following their last league game at the Vicente Calderon.

Diego Pablo Simeone, manager of Atletico de Madrid before The La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Athletic Club at Vicente Calderon on May 21, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

Image credit: Getty Images

At the end of the final match, which was the last match of the season, players and the staff took to the pitch and Simeone took the microphone to discuss his future.

"The journalists ask me continuously if I'm going to stay and yes, I'm going to stay. And you know why I'm staying? Because this club has a future, the future is us," Simeone said.

"I want to thank everyone who has worked for this club"

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"For you, the word 'feeling' is something so profound. Other teams can have more money and trophy but they'll never have this 'feeling.'"

Diego Pablo Simeone, manager of Atletico de Madrid before The La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Athletic Club at Vicente Calderon on May 21, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

Image credit: Getty Images

Speculation over Simeone intensified when he voluntarily cut his own contract short and a return to Inter Milan, where he won the 1998 UEFA Cup, had been mooted.

That could still of course be possible but Simeone will be staying put for now.

Atleti are due to move into the new Wanda Metropolitano stadium and Sunday's match against Athletic Bilbao was their final match at the Calderon.

They emerged victorious thanks to two goals from local lad Fernando Torres with Angel Correa completing a 3-1 victory after Inaki Williams had pulled one back for Athletic.

Torres, who made his debut at Atletico's atmospheric home of 51 years aged 17 in 2001, knocked in Antoine Griezmann's glanced header from close range in the eighth minute then swivelled to hook a bouncing header from Koke into the net in the 11th.

Substitute Williams gave Athletic hope of a comeback midway through the second half to boost their chances of finishing sixth but Correa struck the final goal in the league at the Calderon in the 89th minute.

A Club Atletico de Madrid fan celebrates Fernendo Torres 2nd goal during the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Athletic Club Bilbao at Vicente Calderon stadium on May 21, 2017 in Madrid, Spain

Image credit: Getty Images

The stadium hosts the King's Cup final between Barcelona and Alaves next Saturday, while a friendly between Atletico and a "Legends" side composed of former players from the club next Sunday will be the final game there, with Atletico moving to the 67,000 capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium next season.

Atletico finished third with 78 points while Athletic missed out on sixth and a qualifying round spot in next season's Europa League to Basque rivals Real Sociedad, who snatched a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo with an added time leveller from striker Juanmi.

Atletico de Madrid's forward Fernando Torres (C) hugs Atletico de Madrid's Argentinian coach Diego Pablo Simeone (L) when leaving the field during the Spanish league football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Athletic Club Bilbao at the Vicente Calderon st

Image credit: Getty Images

Athletic are seventh but can still earn a place in the Europa League if Barcelona win the King's Cup.

Later on Sunday, Real Madrid will clinch their first league title since 2012 by avoiding defeat at Malaga, while Barcelona host Eibar needing a win and a victory by Malaga to lift a third consecutive domestic crown.

Additional reporting via Reuters

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