Simeone’s new contract a blow to the continent’s best

With Chelsea fans unhappy with Rafael Benitez and Arsene Wenger’s position at Arsenal becoming increasingly untenable, speculation has been rife as to who could succeed the pairing in London. The likes of Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, prior to his decision to take over at Bayern Munich, were all mooted, but surprisingly one Argentine was overlooked.

Diego Simeone has been overseeing Atletico Madrid rise from perennial Champions League contenders to the team to break to monopolising duo of Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga and has been doing so in a superb fashion.

Los Rojiblancos currently sit second in the Primera Division, two points ahead of their city rivals and 11 behind the Blaugrana, having secured their place in the final of the Copa Del Rey and look continuously like a team that has risen from the ashes.

Unsurprisingly, Atletico were overly keen to tie him down to a new long term contract and successfully managed this on Tuesday afternoon, with Simeone penning a deal until 2017. As such, the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal have every right to fell aggrieved by his decision.

His insistence on bringing in the right people to allow them to do their jobs has seen Atleti become not only a force pushing forward, but also formidably watertight – the club have conceded just 23 goals this season; the best in the league.

Both the Blues and the Gunners could have utilised his ability to bring the best out of players, with the likes of Falcao, Koke and Gabi all prime examples of the self belief he instils throughout his squad, especially with the two Premier League teams going through a poor run of form at present.