Simeone-inspired Atletico topple riches of Barca, Madrid

Atletico Madrid rounded off the best season in the club's 111-year history by claiming their 10th La Liga title with a 1-1 draw away to Barcelona.
A first league title for 18 years under former player Diego Simeone yesterday completes the remarkable transformation of the club that once nicknamed itself "the cursed ones".
When Simeone arrived back at Atletico two days before Christmas in 2011, the club sat four points from the relegation zone and had just been eliminated by third tier Albacete over two legs in the Copa del Rey.
Nearly two-and-a-half years later nine of those beaten by Albacete were parading around Stamford Bridge having just defeated Chelsea 3-1 to reach the club's first Champions League final for 40 years.

Simeone had been welcomed back as a prodigal son straight away. A key component of the side the last time Atletico won the league 18 years ago, the club's spiral coincided with his departure as just four seasons later they were relegated.
Led back to the top flight by a fresh-faced Fernando Torres, the Atletico fans became accustomed to loving and losing as one by one each of their heroes was picked off by richer foes abroad.

Torres' transfer to Liverpool in 2007 was followed by the departures of Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan and David de Gea before Simeone's appointment.

Even a period of sustained success under the Argentine which reaped the Europa League in 2012, Champions League qualification and a first victory over Real Madrid in 14 years in the Copa del Rey final last season, Atletico couldn't hold onto their star player.
Last summer it was Radamel Falcao who departed in a 60 million euro move to football's latest nouveau riche fad in Monaco.
Yet, Simeone's incessant focus on a team that works completely as one rather than relying on individual stars has, even in Falcao's absence, propelled Los Rojiblancos to even greater achievements.
Simeone's repeated soundbites in press conferences had played down Atletico's title chances at every chance this season.