Everton linked with Diego Simeone again
As Everton fans await tonight’s Merserside derby at Anfield with Marco Silva still in charge, there are newspaper reports that Athletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone might soon be out of work. Is he someone the Blues should consider to replace Silva?
The Daily Mirror is saying that the Argentinian’s time in the Spanish capital is perhaps drawing to a close with Athletico Madrid off the pace in 6th place in La Liga. So is he a potential candidate that Everton could and should look at?
If the Spanish club are unhappy with their current situation, I’m sure most Everton supporters would happily take that sort of position for our club right now!
So it’s possible he might be leaving his beloved Athletico Madrid after a very successful spell in which he has won La Liga and two Europa League titles. What I’d give for that kind of record from a current Blues boss!
In fact he could well have won one or two Champions Leagues as well, but he was unfortunate to face a great Real Madrid side, inspired by Ronaldo, in his team’s two finals.
Simeone is a winner then and has forged a highly competitive side despite limited resources, compared to his hugely glamorous neighbours and Barcelona. That’s a position similar to Everton; facing a club in Liverpool who have won far more recently and have a much higher profile.
According to the Mirror, Simeone is more likely to go to Arsenal if he comes to England, but they claim he was interested in the Toffees job a few years ago and is supposedly admired by Farhad Moshiri. So there has it seems been past contact.
The Argentine produced teams that were very well organised, hard-working and defensively disciplined who played with great commitment to each other and their coach. The football was not always great to watch, but it was effective and he had a few genuinely world-class performers in players like Antione Greismann to provide additional class.
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This kind of approach is quite similar to Rafa Benitez, who also always takes an ultimately pragmatic line to ensure success. Although it wouldn’t satisfy the purists, given Everton’s situation I think it is the right one at the moment.
The question is, given his profile, would Simeone be interested in Everton now? It’s not likely to be honest. With the Blues in a dreadful position at the moment and the apparent lack of direction and leadership at the club, I think he would probably give the Toffees a swerve.
Talking of Benitez again, there are reports in the papers that it would cost more than £20 million in compensation to prise him away from his current role in the Chinese Super League.
This might seem like quite a lot of money, but it’s nothing compared to how much relegation to the Championship would cost the club!