Jose Francisco Molina – former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper and coach of Indian champions Atletico de Kolkata – doesn’t think he will replace Diego Simeone.
The 46-year-old spent five years at Atletico as a player and previously managed Villarreal in La Liga along with winning the Thai treble with Kitchee SC and then guiding Atletico de Kolkata – linked with Los Rojiblancos – to the Indian Super League title, leading to him being linked with a return to a top European club.
"I don't see myself as Simeone's replacement," Molina told AS.
"I don't have the CV as a coach that they would want. But of course I would love to coach Atleti. It would be a pleasure, I'd be proud to do it.”
The former Deportivo La Coruna and Levante shot-stopper then went into greater detail about the motivations behind managing in India.
"I went there because Atletico Madrid were behind them," Molina continued.
"It would not be the same to go there alone. I had an offer to manage another team there [in India], but during a meal with ex-footballers and Atletico friends they told me that if I was interested, I should speak to Kolkata. That's how I joined the Indian franchise.
"The club owners are Indians, but Atletico run the sporting side.
"From the successes Atletico have had in Spain and Europe, and for their adventure there, the Spanish club is much more known there.
"The final we played against Kerala Blasters, in their stadium, and there were 55,000 spectators. And it was watched on TV by 40 million people."
