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Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone: Inter Milan links 'normal'

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says it is "normal" for his family to foresee him managing Inter Milan at some future point, however for the moment he is very focused on his current job, starting with Tuesday's Champions League Group D game at Bayern Munich.

Simeone's outstanding success in his nearly five years at the Estadio Vicente Calderon has seen him regularly linked with other top jobs around Europe -- especially after he cut a year off his current deal at Atletico so that it now ends in June 2018.

The former Argentina midfielder spent two seasons at Inter as a player in the late 1990s, winning a UEFA Cup medal, and has said previously that "one day I will return" to the San Siro club.

Speculation that he could be back soon or later cranked up last week when Simeone's son Gio, currently playing in Serie A for Genoa, told Spanish radio that "at some stage my father will sign for Inter."

Speaking in Munich at the news conference ahead of Tuesday's game at Bayern, the Colchoneros coach said that what his son had said was "nothing new, nor was it news."

"It is normal that my son, my father or my sister says that one day I will coach Inter," Simeone said. "It is nothing new, nor is it news. I do not have to speak about my future, because that is very clear. I am excited about this game, and the size of the opponent."

Atletico go into Tuesday's game in the unexpected situation of having already won Group D, with Bayern also being assured of progress to the knockout stages in second spot.

"I am motivated by every game we have played since I joined Atletico," Simeone said. "Sometimes it is more important to play for pride than for points. Tomorrow is one of those days."

Current Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti has faced some criticism during his first months in Germany, and his side were beaten 1-0 in September's reverse fixture at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, but Simeone said he had no doubt that the five-time competition winners would be in the hunt for the Champions League trophy next spring.

"Over time teams go through different runs of form," he said. "Ancelotti has come to a new team, but knowing him well I have no doubts that they will fight for what this clubs wants -- which is the Champions League trophy.

"They are a top team with some great players. They have a different style than [last year under Pep] Guardiola, but the final objectives are all that count."