Diego Simeone fights. That's what he does. He knows no other way. "My parents raised me to play football like a soldier," he explained many years ago. Now he coaches like a general. He inspires 100 per cent loyalty and dedication from every single member of his squad. As he says, "Either you follow me or you don't... It's hard for me to interact with players who don't give themselves completely. The weak don't interest me."

As a result, Simeone has surrounded himself with strong characters; players with "balls so big" that, after a Champions League win over Chelsea in 2014, he felt obliged to thank their mothers for giving birth to them. It is why two years after suffering an agonising loss to Real Madrid in the final of the Champions League that they battled their way back into the biggest game in club football. And it is also why when everything seemed to be going against them in Saturday's tournament decider in Milan, they still managed to force extra-time and then penalties. 

Atletico were punished for a slow start at San Siro, conceding a set-piece goal to Sergio Ramos (again!) after just 15 minutes. They dominated both territory and possession for the remainder of regulation time but for a long time, it looked like it would not be their night. Sergio Ramos appeared to have been marginally offside when he got the slightest of touches on Gareth Bale's flick-on, while the same defender twice appeared to get away with handballs in the penalty area. 

Then there was Antoine Griezmann's penalty. Last weekend, the French forward missed a spot-kick in a practice match between Simeone's chosen 11 for the Champions League final and a team made up of reserves asked to replicate Real's 4-3-3 formation and playing style. On that occasion, the game finished scoreless; at the Giuseppe Meazza, Griezmann's profligacy appeared to have far greater consequences.

However, Simeone never stopped believing. He called Griezmann over to the touchline, ordered him to get his head back in the game before setting about rallying the fans. During his school days, Simeone served as the conductor in his music class. At regular intervals throughout the second half, he could be scene orchestrating the Atleti fans, rousing them into voicing their support.

The Rojiblancos were playing a dangerous, unfamiliar game at this point. They were having to force the proceedings; attack a side containing two forwards worth more than their entire squad. As a result, they were twice caught on the break. Luckily, a combination of good goalkeeping and last-ditch defending kept Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale at bay.

Just moments after their second let-off, Atletico equalised. Simeone is so often praised for his passion and defensive organisation, but the goal was a perfect demonstration of his tactical prowess. The Argentine had made the bold decision to replace Augusto Fernandez during the break and replace him with the attack-minded Yannick Carrasco. It was an offensive gamble and one that ultimately paid off with 10 minutes remaining, with the Belgium winger firing home a terrific cross from Juanfran to force extra-time.

Carrasco only went from strength to strength - he attempted more dribbles than any other player on the pitch despite his belated entry - but Atleti could not force a winner. 

Given the way in which Lady Luck had turned her back on them across 120 pulsating minutes, it was perhaps unsurprising that Atleti came up short in the penalty shootout, meaning that for the second time in three years, they had been lost to their city rivals in agonising fashion. The defeat will hurt Atleti. The tears that flowed on the pitch and in the stands were wholly understandable. But they have been here before and they will recover. Their general will see to that.

"We see ourselves reflected in society, in people who have to fight to keep going," Simeone once said. "As soon as we stop fighting, we have no chance." And as long as he remains at the Vicente Calderon, Atleti will never stop striving to realise their Champions League dream.