Are Atletico at the end of an era that put them on cusp of Euro glory?

If you ever wanted to know what it looks like to see a man's soul crushed, you had to be at the San Siro deep into the night when Juanfran made his departure through the mixed zone - where players meet the media following a match - after missing the penalty which lost the Champions League final for Atletico Madrid. It was a haunted and haggard visage which avoided the row of cameras arranged in a line towards the exit, the defender's downwards stare unwavering even as his strained face threatened to collapse into itself with another bout of sobbing.

He barely exchanged a word with his young son, Oliver, who was trailing behind him dressed in an Atleti shirt. One witness to this operatically sad scene tried to offer a gesture of consolation to the young boy, who instinctively covered his ears with his hands as he followed Juanfran out into the black night. Father and son, both trying to block out one of the worst nights of their lives.

Around 90 minutes earlier, Juanfran had approached the penalty spot to take the eighth kick of a hitherto impeccable shootout in Milan. But his low drive smacked into the base of the post, giving a grateful Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to win an 11th European Cup for Real Madrid, and a second final victory in three seasons over their city rivals. Atleti's gutsy comeback from 1-0 down was in vain.

In tears, Juanfran made his way apologetically to the Atleti end in a show of contrition to the fans. But there was no need to apologise. Instead they rose as one to acclaim a player who has done as much as anyone to transform Atleti into a team who have amassed trophies at home and abroad and come so painfully close to winning the Champions League twice in three seasons.

That was the tragedy of Juanfran's horror night: the right-back is one of a core of players, also including Koke, Diego Godin and Gabi, who are the pillars of everything Simeone has built. In a club which undergoes constant renewal - in Milan, only six players remained from the 18 who were defeated in Lisbon - Juanfran is one of the essential constants.

The question now, even more so than it was two years ago, is what comes next. Already in the aftermath of defeat, Simeone was admitting he would have to think carefully about his future after another crushing blow to the club's Champions League ambitions.

Asked if he had thought about resigning, Simeone responded: "I am thinking that I have to start thinking. It's a logical question for you to ask after a defeat like the one we've suffered today. We had the chance to become champions, we didn't take that chance. We need to continue working, I have to think things out on my part - that's what I'm doing now."

Simeone's great strength is his ability to convince players to buy into his unrelenting regime. Players like Juanfran submit to his demands because of the track record the Argentine has in getting results: the Europa League and European Super Cup in 2012; the Copa del Rey in 2013; La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup in 2014. But nothing for two seasons now. If Simeone's faith in his own ability to take Atletico forward is wavering, even from the position of considerable strength that he is responsible for putting the club into, it puts the whole project in jeopardy.

On Saturday night Juanfran became the first defender to produce assists in two Champions League finals: his header into the box for Diego Godin in Lisbon and his beautiful cross for Yannick Carrasco in Milan. Despite these tales of personal excellence, though, he left the stadium a broken man, his dreams, along with those of the club and fans, lying shattered.

The concern for Atletico Madrid must be that the pain etched across his face not only provided a chilling window into Juanfran's personal torment, but warned of the approaching end of a cycle which has taken them so near, yet so far.