Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 7y

Diego Simeone confirms talks with Atletico Madrid about future

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says he plans to sit down with the club's hierarchy next Monday to discuss how they can take the "next step" forward.

Atletico host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday afternoon already assured of third spot, in what will be the team's last ever competitive game at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, ahead of their summer move to a new home at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Since their recent Champions League semifinal exit to Real Madrid, Simeone and players including reported Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann have suggested they want the club to match their own ambitions by pushing on from their recent success.

Simeone told a news conference that he would be setting out some objectives when sitting down with Rojiblanco chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin and sporting director Andrea Berta before he heads off for his postseason holidays.

"We have always spoken about the situation with the club," Simeone said. "We are finishing the season now, and for sure on Monday we will meet with Miguel, Andrea, to discuss what could be waiting for us in the future.

"Obviously we will look for the best for the club and for everyone. We will speak about the growth for our future. The base is there, solid, with six years competing in an extraordinary way. The tremendous stadium we enter in September will make further demands, we need to all take another step to match it."

Simeone said he had "marvellous" memories of the Calderon as both a player and coach, and recalled his relationship with controversial former club owner Jesus Gil and a final-day goal against Albacete en route to the 1995-96 La Liga and Copa del Rey double success.

"My memories as a player were marvellous," he said. "I have great memories of Don Jesus [Gil], an excellent guy. My second season was one of the most important in the club's history, winning La Liga and the Copa.

"The goal against Albacete was maybe the highest point of my career as a player. Then as a coach to see again Atleti in the highest places. As a player and a coach, the Calderon has been a place which will stay with me forever."

Simeone will have to juggle his resources for Sunday's game against Athletic, who are chasing a Europa League qualification spot, as defenders Sime Vrsaljko and Juanfran Torres are both still injured while Filipe Luis, Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez are all suspended.

"I have had five years [of selection problems] just this season," Simeone joked. "Tomorrow I will see what I will do. Again this is confirmed as a difficult, tough, year. In the very first game we went ahead in the 90th minute and Leganes equalised in the 93rd. Injuries for Tiago, Augusto [Fernandez], [Jan] Oblak. Having to find someone to fill in at right-back.

"It has been like this all year. But it motivates us, and challenges you as a coach every day. Tomorrow we are up against a very motivated opponent, a very difficult game, but we will go out there with what we have."

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