Simeone’s warriors up for fight

When Diego Simeone took charge at Atletico Madrid, just over two years ago, the challenge he faced was huge.

The €400-plus million in debt club had sold its best players — Sergio Aguero, David De Gea, Diego Forlan — the summer before. The team sat 10th in the Primera Division table.

They had recently been knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third tier Albacete. At his unveiling the teak-tough Argentinian did not talk directly about winning trophies or even playing beautiful football, but he did lay out to everyone exactly what he planned to do.