Diego Simeone says managing one of Real Madrid or Barcelona would be “impossible” while he is unsure whether he could ever take charge of the other, as the Atletico de Madrid boss reflected on his future and the growing demands placed on the club.
Simeone has been in charge of Atletico for 15 years and says the club’s rise has brought a corresponding increase in expectations. What was once a source of pure joy is now, he believes, more often a source of relief.
“Previously, winning was a source of happiness, but now it has become a source of relief,” Simeone told Mundo Deportivo.
The Argentine said he now feels the pressure created by taking Atletico to a position where a successful campaign is no longer enough for supporters.
“I am suffering now because we have taken the club to a place where we are more exposed to pressure, with expectations raised to a very high level, and therefore our responsibility has become enormous. Having a good season is no longer enough,” he said.
Atletico reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, lost the Copa del Rey final on penalties and finished fourth in the league. Simeone believes those achievements have made the task of satisfying the club’s supporters even more difficult this season.
“We must reach the Champions League final, win the Copa del Rey and finish in one of the top two places in a competition that includes Real Madrid and Barcelona,” he said.
Simeone insisted he still has the energy required to continue leading Atletico and outlined the areas he wants the team to improve.
He said the club would focus on “recovering the defensive solidity that we lost, especially in the Champions League”, while also seeking to “increase the contribution of the midfield players in scoring goals”.
“I still believe we are capable of pursuing what our fans want, which is to win titles. We will give everything we have to achieve that,” Simeone added.
The 55-year-old also put Atletico’s recent progress into historical context. When he arrived, the club had not won the league since 1996. They claimed the title in 2014, 18 years later, before becoming champions again in 2021, seven years after that success.
“The team must reduce these periods even further,” Simeone said.
He did not set a specific timeframe for his continued stay at Atletico and said he was not attempting to match the extraordinary managerial records of Arsene Wenger, who spent 22 years at Arsenal, or Alex Ferguson, who led Manchester United for 27 years.
“I am only thinking about the energy, strength and humility we need in order to be here,” he said.
Simeone also highlighted the difficulty of competing in Spanish football, where Atletico are attempting to challenge Real Madrid and Barcelona while holding off clubs below them.
“We are at a club competing against two superpowers (…) We are now in a special place, but the teams behind us want to compete with us,” he said.
“At Atletico, you must always be fully focused and at 110%, because 100% is not enough to win in Spain. You have to improve every day and not lose your humility, because the teams behind us continue to develop.”
The former Argentina international did not rule out taking charge of the national team at some point, saying that it could happen “later”.
He praised Argentina’s performance at the most recent World Cup and described the work of their manager Lionel Scaloni as “huge”. However, Simeone acknowledged that Spain were the better side in the final.
Asked whether he could one day coach Real Madrid or Barcelona, Simeone gave a brief and striking response: “One of them is definitely impossible. As for the other, I don’t think so.”
