Diego Simeone believes Atletico Madrid and Sevilla can look beyond targeting Champions League qualification and towards winning La Liga this season.
Atleti travel to Sevilla on Sunday, with both sides in the thick of the early-season race for the title, and Simeone claims both his side and their upcoming opponents have what it takes to tussle with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“Sevilla have changed many players, have a different profile to the one they had and their game is showing and developing,” he said at a Press conference.
“They’re very competitive, with a very clear idea from their Coach, brave, they press after they lose the ball, and this makes them extremely dangerous. They’re doing well in Champions League, strong.
“I have no commitment to any one style of play. I’m not a coach who believes that football must be played in one way.
“I always look to give my players the chance of playing in the best way together. I’m not attached to any one style.
“I’m influenced by several coaches. Marcelo, Bilardo, Eriksson, Basile … I don’t want to forget them.
“I understand the comparisons between Sevilla’s Coach and Bielsa. He’ is a very good Coach, with clear ideas, but I’ve never liked comparisons.
“I’ll always remember my time at Sevilla when I was a young lad, how they received me, the fans, the atmosphere … I’m very grateful.
“We have a good record against them, but football is about the present and all this is in the past. You can only look at the numbers: Sevilla are a team with serious chances of fighting for the title.
“We always try to seek how we can bring the match to where we feel most comfortable, but it’s becoming more complicated.
“Yannick is growing. He can be anything he wants to be. He’s succeeded with his game, intensity and tactically, so his renewal is a reward for his work. He makes the club and team happy.
“He’s playing with more continuity and intensity. Tactically, he’s improved a lot. The best thing about him midweek was his participation in different parts of the field.
“I see mostly Sevilla, obviously Barcelona and Madrid, and ourselves in this quartet of dreaming for the title.
“Sevilla are growing year after year, with trophies, have competed very well and have made an exciting start to the season.”
