Should he stay or should he go? / Image via bleacherreport.com
Atletico Madrid lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid 5-3 on penalties after the match at San Siro finished 1-1 after extra time thus concluding a promising season in utter disappointment.
Having failed to keep the pace in the closure of the Spanish La Liga title chase, los Rojiblancos ultimately failed to produce when it most mattered falling short to their local rivals for the second time in three seasons in the elite club competition, following the 4-1 extra-time defeat in 2014.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone says he will start thinking about his future with the Spanish club following the Champions League loss and the summer ahead of us could very well bring an end to the tenure that lasts since 2011.
End of a cycle in sight?
Temperamental Argentine has been a massive success at Vicente Calderon winning every single trophy but the Champions League with his team.
In addition to reaching the Champions League final twice, Diego Simeone led Atletico Madrid to their first La Liga title since 1996 in 2014. He also won the Copa del Rey, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup under the leadership of a charismatic 46-year-old.
Due to his gritty approach and sheer determination he managed to embed into his players, the Atletico Madrid boss took the club to a whole new level. Rojiblancos managed to disrupt the double act of the billion euro worth royal empire blocks away and Catalan giants to the northeast successfully becoming a fear factor in the La Liga.
With his heart on the sleeve during every game Diego Simeone won the hearts of a football hungry nation and has seen the entire underdog world taking his side in the ruthless fight against football globalization.
The intensity he displayed playing for Argentina, Inter Milan and the same club he today manages is the same intensity we see on the touchline, the intensity that makes his job and ultimately the choices he makes difficult ones.
He drove a full circle with his team since 2011 as the Saturday’s match was expected to be a crown to his managerial career.
But seeing him lose the Champions League final for the second time under similar circumstances could might as well be the final straw.
The Argentine had been linked with Chelsea during winter and before Antonio Conte was appointed first-team head coach at Stamford Bridge, but a different option has now presented itself.
Return to Serie A?
Always open and upfront, Diego Simeone has never kept his wishes a secret. Inter Milan is his second home to the first one in Madrid and he made a pledge to return to Milan one day.
“I did well there and I left a great memory there; and I have the objective of going back as coach”, he said.
Could Inter pounce for the charismatic Cholo?
The moment seems to be right. Roberto Mancini had been given a unanimous backing from the club’s new owner Eric Thohir at the beginning of last season, but the experienced Italian seems to have misused the trust.
Nerazzurri have finished the Serie A campaign as fourth following a bright start and one more year without the Europe’s top club competition has indeed seen as a failure.
There is no great love between Inter and Roberto Mancini at the moment more so having in mind his rapport with the players. It has been a bumpy ride with plenty of disruptions to the team atmosphere and there is no doubt that a change of pace would be a welcoming one.
Diego Simeone would bring back the wow factor and Inter would benefit a great deal from his potential arrival.
Inter vice president Javier Zanetti could play a key role as his bond with Cholo Simeone has grown even stronger once the two friends ended their playing careers. A move to Inter would be a timely change both for Inter and Simeone, but Atletico Madrid still have plenty to say about the subject.
Atletico Madrid players are behind their manager and the bond forged on mutual respect and honour could be the ultimate reason to keep Cholo in Spain.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Tiago has publicly expressed his thought claiming he has “no doubts” that Diego Simeone will remain at the club and there is no doubt that all of the first-team members would be devastated to see their beloved coach leave.
With Spain turning their attention to Euro 2016 where La Roja are given , the final decision on Diego Simeone’s future is likely to be made after the European Championship finals in France.
What is your opinion, should Diego Simeone stay with Atletico or should he leave in the summer?
