Diego Simeone has given his broadest hint yet that he will remain as boss of Atletico Madrid – provided the club continues to grow.
On the day that Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin reportedly bought a 20 per cent stake in Los Colchoneros, the Argentine sent a message to fans that he is prepared to stay at the Vicente Calderon and bring them even more success.
“I see Atletico as something that keeps on growing, so that allows me to believe things will get even better,” he told Radio America AM 1190.
“If things carry on the way they are and keep on improving then I wouldn’t leave Atleti. It’s been very tough to compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid but we’ve found the intensity to make things difficult for them.
“At first I couldn’t understand why there was such a difference between them and us but now we constantly trouble them.”
Simeone also praised Fernando Torres following his return to the club and the two midweek goals that sent neighbours Real Madrid crashing out of the Copa del Rey.
“When you get to 30 you don’t forget how to play, as I know myself. We’ve already said he didn’t need to save Atletico, as he did when he was a kid, but he is with us now and will get even better.”
Finally, Simeone spoke of the award for Best Coach of 2014, where he finished third behind Joachim Low and Carlo Ancelotti.
“For any Coach who has won this award it has been thoroughly deserved,” he conceded magnanimously.
