DIEGO SIMEONE HAS ruled out the prospect of leaving Atletico Madrid and taking over as manager of Everton.
The Premier League club have been linked with an audacious attempt to bring the Argentine to Goodison Park to replace Ronald Koeman, who was sacked last month.
Simeone admitted he was close to leaving Atletico after their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in 2016 and there has been speculation this could be his last season in the Spanish capital.
However, the 47-year-old insists he plans to see out at least the majority of his contract at the Wanda Metropolitano, which expires in 2020.
“As I’ve said on various occasions, my future is tied to Atletico Madrid and they are going to have to put up with me for the next couple of years at least. I’m absolutely sure about that,” he told a news conference.
Simeone also stressed star forward Antoine Griezmann is committed to improving his form at the club and is not distracted by transfer rumours.
Reports in France have suggested he has agreed to a €90 million switch to Barcelona at the end of the season, and the league leaders’ head coach, Ernesto Valverde, suggested on Friday a pursuit of Griezmann was not out of the question.
Talk of the 26-year-old’s unrest has been fuelled by the sight of him walking away from matchday team photos prematurely but Simeone insists he is not behaving any differently to normal.
“To be honest with you, he’s fine,” he said. “It’s a difficult situation – the other day, they took the team photo just as he was leaving to take up his position on the pitch. It makes it seem that he doesn’t want to be in the photo. I can understand journalists’ take on it – but he always does that.
“He’s the most skilful player we have the most important player we have in attack. What I see in Griezmann is enthusiasm. The team is enjoying a good league campaign but we haven’t seen Griezmann’s best moment yet. And that’s what I’m really looking forward to.
“All that I am concerned about right now is making sure my lads are filled with hope, drive and enthusiasm. As for the rumours, they’re part and parcel of the game.
“There’ll always be rumours like we had with [Radamel] Falcao, Diego Costa, [Fernando] Torres, Diego Ribas… the media will always talk about the high-profile players.”
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This stinks of “Jobs for the Boys” to b honest. Has Micko done much at underage/schools/club level (genuine question)?
Denis.List’s his experience right there in the article. Leinster have made a similar appointment with Cullen next season
And Cullen will be working with the Senior squad, Micko is looking after the A side.
Micko hopefully can pass on his great technical knowledge especially lineout work. As you say thou the back’s coach appointment is the crucial one
With POC still in situ ,it’s really hard to see what MOD could possibly bring after a stint coaching at schools level. This smacks of a very Munster job for one of the boys
Not a fan of players that r just retired nd then fall in coaching same players….can cloud decisions., for example is mick goin to recommend a player that he was great friends with to be dropped if his form is poor….???
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
Yea retired two years but not too many guys he wouldnt have trained or played with.It could be a great appointment but personally I wouldnt agree.
The impressive Rob Penney was shafted by the Munster Rugby board in order to make way for their good old boy, Anthony Foley, to become head coach; who in turn is intent on employing his good old boys instead of seeking the direct input of those with an enlightened, outside perspective. Group-think will now prevail.
Munster will be the big loser because Foley won’t have the same progressive-minded outlook and plan that Penney has. Munster will regress into their shell under Anthony Foley, and the slack will be compensated for by utter blarney from Foley and the media.
As a Leinster fan I hope your wrong.
If insider knowledge points to foley knowing something that mod can bring then there’s nothing wrong with appointing the right man for the job. If he’s giving his old pal a leg up it will fall apart along with his own career.
I don’t believe Anthony foley wants to throw away his carreer to give his mate a job.
Penney wasnt shafted.
Micko is looking after the a’s. Not first team. Might have little to do with the seniors.
Must be a pisser for Penny to see next years coaching ticket been lined up , could this be announced by Munster after Pennys gone ..
They let the cat out of the bag early enough this year bout him moving. Why should nexus years coaching ticket be any different? I’m sure he doesn’t hold a grudge.
Hope I’m wrong but has a ” jobs for the boys” ring to it
Micko being linked to the A squad hints fairly strongly that Ian costello could be the backs coach for the seniors.
this time last year there was howls about the fact that not one province had a native head-coach, now there’s howls when a native is appointed head coach & opts to select another native to be part of his coaching team?
Micko was known as a top-notch lineout analyst in his playing days, he had a very large part to play in the strength of the munster lineout in the past as he analysed the opposition lineouts & ran those patterns in training.