New Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said at his presentation on Tuesday that he was aiming to rediscover the club’s glory days that he helped forge as a player.
Simeone played a part in Atletico’s last Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles won in 1996. Since then, the club’s fortunes have varied wildly from season to season, and the team has consistently disappointed in the Spanish league.
“The responsibility is huge, but instead of frightening me, it motivates me,” the former Argentina midfielder said. “When I left as a player I set a goal of coming back as a coach. We are here to recover a little of what we always had.”
Simeone signed a contract with Atletico until the end of the 2012-13 season after former manager Gregorio Manzano was fired last week following his team’s elimination from the Copa at the hands of third-tier Albacete.
The 41-year-old Simeone will lead his first training session on Thursday to prepare for Atletico’s next game at Malaga on January 7.
Atletico has struggled since the exit of South American strikers Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan in the offseason. It currently sits 10th in the Spanish standings, just four points above the relegation zone, approaching the season’s midway point.
“The past six months haven’t been the best,” Simeone said. “But the club has built a squad capable of achieving its goals.”
Originally posted here:
Simeone aiming to recover Atletico’s lost glory