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Diego Simeone contacted to gauge interest in managing Chelsea
Can the English side woo Simeone from Atletico Madrid?
Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Chelsea are expected to hire Guus Hiddink as their interim manager to see the Blues through to the end of the season, but questions are still swirling as to who will be the man in charge for next season. There's been talk of a return for Carlo Ancelotti or a courtship of Pep Guardiola -- but perhaps the most intriguing name to be linked to Chelsea early on is Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone.
The fiery Argentine manager has lead Atletico to much success in La Liga, winning the league two years ago and sitting even with Barcelona atop the table so far this season. He’s long been a popular figure to link to open high-profile managerial jobs, and there are already reports that Chelsea has contacted Simeone to see if he’s interested in taking the job next season.
Simeone would be a fascinating fit for Chelsea, with a hard-nosed style that many are eager to see translated to England. One would think that he’d require a sizable overhaul of Chelsea’s squad in order to play his game there, as they only have a few players in key spots that fit his vision. Of course, Simeone could easily adapt himself to suit his players -- he has shown himself to be a good tactician, after all.
Of note, Simeone’s contract with Atletico Madrid apparently includes a £15 million ($22.37 million US) exit clause, one that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich may be hesitant to pay. He got burned by paying such a clause for Andre Villas-Boas several years ago, only to fire him months later -- and on top of that, there’s still the matter of the over £40 million ($59.7 million US) owed to Jose Mourinho on the contract he signed just last summer.
In the news
Carlo Ancelotti says that Chelsea hasn’t contacted him yet for their opening. (Guardian)
Louis Van Gaal knows he has to improve Manchester United’s form, or he risks getting sacked himself. (Daily Mail)
Wayne Rooney is hoping to be able to play this weekend against Norwich City. (BBC)
Bayern Munich extended the contracts of four core players, including Thomas Muller. (ESPN FC)
Lionel Messi is feeling better, but hasn’t been cleared to play in the Club World Cup final yet. (MARCA)
You should be reading
Gabriele Marcotti looks at what might be coming next for Jose Mourinho. (ESPN FC)
This interview with Nathan Redmond shows he’s come to understand the virtues of patience since his once-skyrocketing career slowed. (Guardian)
Adam and Peter Smith look at the unparalleled success teams playing away from home have had in the Premier League this season. (Sky Sports)
What happened on Thursday
The Coppa Italia didn’t see any upsets like it did earlier in the week, with Milan and Lazio both winning easily. (Lega Serie A)
Villarreal easily won their Copa del Rey clash, taking down Huesca by a final score of 2-0 ... (Villarreal USA)
... while Atlético Madrid had a little bit more trouble with Reus Deportiu, but still won 1-0. (ESPN FC)
What to watch on Friday (click for listings, all times ET)
Bundesliga: Schalke 04 vs. Hoffenheim (2:30 p.m.): Schalke’s form has fallen off in recent weeks, and so has their place in the table -- but a win against a Hoffenheim side sitting in the relegation zone could put them right back in the thick of things.
Ligue 1: OGC Nice vs. Montpellier (2:30 p.m.): The middle third of the table in France’s top division is so close that these teams are eight places apart, despite just a four-point gap between them. A win for Montpellier would see them shoot a long ways up the table, and could spark a lot of change in terms of who’s sitting where in Ligue 1 this weekend.
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