Simeone only focused on Atletico Madrid as Chelsea links intensify

Posted Thursday, February 18, 2016 by Goal.com

The fiery Argentine coach is not prepared to announce a move mid-season, as Pep Guardiola and Manchester City did, and is principally concerned with Atleti's next opponent

Diego Simeone is unlikely to enter into negotiations with Chelsea before the end of the season, instead opting to focus exclusively on his Atletico Madrid side’s exploits.

The Argentine coach is one of the favourites to succeed interim boss Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge, with Antonio Conte – set to leave Italy this summer and already studying English – also in contention for the position.

But, as yet, Simeone has given little consideration to the possibility of moving to west London despite Chelsea’s overtures and various reports to the contrary.

Simeone only focused on Atletico Madrid as Chelsea links intensify

"We are more concerned with the game against Villarreal at the weekend than anything else,” sources close to the manager told Goal.

In fact, Simeone was more preoccupied with watching Racing Club’s clash with Newell’s Old Boys on Wednesday evening.

The match marked 10 years since he hung up his boots to take over the managerial reigns at La Academia, though his old club were on the wrong end of a 5-0 hammering.

Reports emerged this week that Simeone had agreed a contract with Chelsea, but there is still a strong chance that he could remain at Atletico.

The 45-year-old harbours a desire to take Atleti into their new 70,000-capacity stadium, which opens next year, while his refreshed and refurbished squad are once again ready to challenge the Barcelona and Real Madrid stranglehold on La Liga.

Regardless, Simeone will not begin weighing up the prospect of taking over at Chelsea until the end of the season, with the manager keen to avoid the problems that arose from Pep Guardiola’s announcement as the new Manchester City boss.