Diego Simeone, manager of Atlético de Madrid, firmly ruled out the possibility of coaching Real Madrid or Barcelona in a recent interview. The 'Cholo' stated: 'One is definitely not. The other, I don't think so', making clear his loyalty to the club and its rivalry with LaLiga's two giants. Atlético finished the 2025 season as LaLiga leaders with 79 points, 9 ahead of Real Madrid, and a goal difference of +54 (84 scored, 30 conceded).
Simeone has built a unique identity at Atlético de Madrid, turning the team into a constant rival of the two giants. 'We are in a club that competes with two superpowers. In Atlético, you always have to be at 110 percent; 100 percent is not enough to win', he explained. His focus on humility and self-improvement has been key to keeping the team at the top.
The Argentine coach did not rule out managing the Argentina national team in the future, but for now, his focus is on Atlético. 'Before, winning was a happiness; now it's a relief', he confessed. Atlético's next match will be against Levante (19th in the table) on February 21, 2027, while Frenkie de Jong remains sidelined.
Simeone recalled the LaLiga titles won in 2014 and 2021 and said the challenge is to reduce the time between successes. 'You have to surpass yourself every day and not lose humility', he said, emphasizing the need to maintain competitiveness in an environment dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona.
