Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was delighted with their 2-0 win at Elche on Wednesday night.

The result secured Champions League qualification for Atleti.

Being in the Champions League for another year is very important for the club," Simeone told Movistar afterward.

"I remember the first time I talked to Miguel [Angel Gil] and Enrique [Cerezo], they said how important it was for the club to get into the Champions League for the next four or five years, because it would allow us to grow as a club, and we achieved it. It's the hard work of a lot of people that you don't see, employees, if we're in the Champions League we can keep evolving, it allows us to prepare for a new season with a good vibe."

Simeone continued: "I think it's the year that we've scored the most goals since I've been at the club, incredibly, and incredibly it's been the year that we've conceded the most goals.

"That's the balance that it's been hard for us to find this year. [Stefan] Savic and [Jose] Gimenez were out for a long time, Reinildo came and did well, he works, he's humble, aggressive, and he allowed the team to have something it always needed. We scored a lot of goals this year."