Diego Simeone: Barcelona, Real Madrid still favourites to land La Liga title

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone brushed aside La Liga title talks, stating Barcelona and Real Madrid are still the ones who are favourites to land the title.

Atletico Madrid, who on Saturday beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, are now placed just behind Barcelona on goal difference. Both the teams have won all their 7 games.

“In a season, Barca and Real’s financial and individual strength is bigger, we have to use our weapons and take it game by game”, Simeone told a press conference. “We have to keep calm, the season is very long, we cannot be overconfident.” said Simeone who was clearly trying to take the pressure of their players.

This former Argentinian midfielder who in his 2 years here has landed the European Super Cup, Euro League 2012 and a Kings Cup which demanded a win against Real Madrid at Bernabeu in the finals has inspired his team to script a new history.

This victory now shows signs of the end of the inferiority complex between the city rivals. This combative spirit that has been infused into the team by Simeone has helped the team to cope up with the loss of their star striker Radamel Falcao, who was transferred to AS Monaco amid major controversies.

“We are working well. The good moment we are enjoying is a reward for the team work”, Simeone said.

Brazilian Diego Costa scored his eighth league goal this season, putting him level with World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.

“We are a tough and competitive team, but there is something we do not negotiate on: hard work, and no individual player is more important than the team,” he said, when asked about Atletico’s leading duo Costa and Koke.