And for Atleti coach Diego Simeone, the biggest reason for his team missing the round of 16 was clear: the referees. Reflecting on the campaign, Simeone expressed pride in his players' efforts but lamented what he deemed poor officiating. "With six points, it wasn't bad, but the match against PSG condemned us, where every refereeing decision always went against us. Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid failed to make the knockout round of the Club World Cup. With an off-season of introspection ahead, Atlético face mounting challenges to rebuild and reclaim their status as contenders on all fronts.