Diego Simeone Throws Huge Party After Cup Win

[Folami David]

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone invited fans to gather in the centre of the Spanish capital later on Saturday after he engineered one of the greatest nights in the club's history in Friday's stunning King's Cup final win against Real Madrid.
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The combative Argentine has transformed Atletico since taking over midway through last season and the 2-1 comeback triumph, made all the sweeter as it was at Real's Bernabeu arena, was their first success against their vastly wealthier and more prestigious neighbours in 14 years.
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Fans were already dancing and singing at the Neptune fountain in central Madrid, the traditional site of Atletico celebrations, in the early hours of Saturday morning and a huge party is planned there starting at 1800 GMT after the players tour the city in an open-top bus.
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Once described as "playing with a knife between his teeth", Simeone was in the Atletico side when they last won the Cup in 1996, beating Barcelona 1-0 in Zaragoza.
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That success pales when compared with Friday's achievement against a team containing more than 400 million euros worth of talent and playing at their own stadium.
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An inspirational leader who wears his heart on his sleeve, Simeone has brought steel to the squad while getting the best from players like Colombia forward Radamel Falcao and his strike partner Diego Costa of Brazil.
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Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is on loan from Chelsea, has also flourished and made two brilliant, point-blank saves late in the game to deny Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil.
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"Winning at the Bernabeu after falling behind against a super powerful team speaks marvelously of a unit that has humility, that knows what it can do and is not afraid to do it," Simeone told a post-match news conference.
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"We can't appreciate it now but this victory will be remembered for a long time," added the 43-year old.
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"People have suffered, people have worked hard and now more and more kids will grow up Atletico fans. I invite everyone to come down to Neptune wearing the shirt."