Chelsea FC Have Diego Simeone Contingency Plan
The Atletico boss is being lined up as an emergency option for Chelsea.
Chelsea FC are weighing up a move for Diego Simeone as a contingency plan should the Blues season not improve, according to reports. Jose Mourinho received formal backing from the club in a statement earlier this week but that has not stopped such rumours from circling.
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The Daily Mirror claims that the Stamford Bridge brass are lining up the Atletico Madrid boss as a replacement for Mourinho in the event that he fails to recover the Chelsea season.
"[Mourinho] must now reassert his authority in the Stamford Bridge dressing room if he is to have a long-term future at the club.That has prompted Chelsea to assess the possibility of prising Simeone out of Atletico."
Simeone has done an incredible job at the Vicente Calderon in the four years since he joined. He has won a Europa League, a UEFA Super Cup, a Spanish Super Cup and the Spanish league title two seasons ago. He also took Atleti to the 2014 Champions League final where an injury time equaliser from Sergio Ramos prevented the cherry from being placed on the top of a mega 2013/14 cake.
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Furthermore, he has done this while seeing some of his best players (Radamel Falcao, Diego Costa, David De Gea) leave for bigger teams.
However, his relationship with the club is so strong that it seems unlikely that he would take off, especially in the middle of a season. Having played and captained the side, he is revered by the fans and he quashed speculation of a departure by committing another five years to Atletico in the summer.
It is also reported that Chelsea would have to pay the Spaniards some £15million to secure Simeone’s services.
"The [contract] included a £15million buy-out clause that either party can trigger at the end of each season."
Atletico have made a decent start in what appears to be one of the most competitive Liga BBVA seasons for some time. Having already got matches with Real Madrid and Barcelona out of the way, Simeone’s men should be set for an aggressive run into the winter break.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will be hoping to return to Cobham refreshed on the back of the international fixtures. The Blues players and staff have had a fortnight to gather their thoughts and put together a plan to break out of this mess. Aston Villa are the opponents when the Premier League resumes and nothing other than a convincing win is needed.
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