Atletico Madrid Coach Diego Simeone has said he doesn’t dream about winning the title, he just wants to win it.
El Cholo added in an interview with Spanish television that he tries to see things as they really are and when asked if he and the Atletico players dream about winning La Liga, gave a tongue-in-cheek reply.
“Sleep is better for the players that I have,” Simeone countered.
“We all want to win the title and we’re not going to lie about this but the job of a Coach is to see things.
“We have improved Raul Garcia, a player criticised an unwanted, to the point he is applauded in Vicente Calderon against Milan. For us, that is an honour.
“But a championship would strengthen the will of a player who used to have another reality. And the same goes for Diego Costa, Diego Godin, Thibaut Courtois…”
Simeone added that he doesn’t worry about the criticism he receives as a Coach, feeling instead it has helped him improve.
“A Coach throughout his career will have different times and that makes you grow,” the Argentine continued.
“I live under that pressure because football today is all good or all bad. But the bad you did yesterday, they won’t judge you for.
“If we listened to the criticism we would not be in the [Champions League] quarter final. If you interpret and accept the criticism it’s hard to be there.”
On the subject of the Champions League, Simeone insists that any side drawn to play Atletico will know they’re not in for an easy ride.
“We know that we will be a problem for whoever we play because we are a team that competes and keeps working.
“We’re going to give everything to continue like this and then we’ll see. Now comes the complicated part.
“We played 15 bad minutes against Milan in Milan and 15 bad minutes in Madrid. If you allow that against a better team than Milan they will eliminate you.”
Simeone was also asked about his future and the prospect of taking charge of the Argentina national team.
“It’s definitely a goal I imagine myself going for, in the long-run.
“But I actually see my coaching career as different to Spain’s best Coaches, Vicente Del Bosque and Luis Aragones.
“They gave their best to the team at a mature stage in their career. I feel very fresh.
“The goal is there and hopefully there’ll be a moment when it’s the right time for both of us.”
