Atletico's title dreams in tatters

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-27 13:03

MADRID: It was supposed to be the season when Atletico Madrid finally joined city rivals Real Madrid in challenging for the league title but with just eight games gone a top-four finish is the best the club can realistically hope for.

As it stands, Atletico are closer to relegation than Europe - they are currently eight points off the top four - so incoming coach 'Quique' Sanchez Flores, who was officially unveiled on Monday, has it all to do.

Atletico decided to part company with Abel Resino on Friday and former Valencia and Benfica coach Flores has been handed a contract until the end of the season with an automatic renewal if the club finishes in the top four.

"Quique Sanchez is a football man and will know what he has to do to get the team going in the right direction," said Diego Forlan.

There was speculation that ex-Getafe coach and former Real Madrid icon Michael Laudrup was approached and turned down Atletico but club president

Enrique Cerezo insisted Flores was first choice.

"Quique was first choice but when you look at bringing in a new coach you have to have a number of options," said Cerezo.

"We didn't get rid of Abel (Resino) because of the press but because of results. We want a coach for three or four years, ideally.

"Quique hasn't asked for new signings. If we can bring someone in then I am sure we will."

Flores, who has Real Madrid connections after winning the title there as a player in 1995, watched Atletico from the stands on Saturday as they failed to defeat a Real Mallorca side that was losing 1-0 and had been reduced to nine men by the hour mark.

A late equalizer meant a 1-1 draw and the defending leading up to the goal showed why Atletico have the worst defense in the league and sit a point above the relegation zone.

"Drawing against a team with two players less is difficult to explain," said striker Sergio 'Kun' Aguero. "That has never happened to me before and the criticism from the fans is logical. I hope the arrival of the new coach can help turn the situation around."

Argentine compatriot Maxi Rodriguez said the post-match jeers were justified.

"We have already been saying a lot of things to the fans," said Maxi. "They have every right to be furious with us as we are with ourselves."

Resino had been whistled in past matches but his dismissal on Friday meant the board and players were the targets for criticism.

Atletico have had back-to-back Champions League football after not qualifying for the competition since 1997 and that now appears to be the bar for the fans and players.

In this season's competition they are yet to win a game and sit bottom of Group D with one point so an early exit could be on the cards. Qualifying for next year's competition is the top priority now and it could be vital if they want to hang on to Aguero and Forlan as well as invest in some new players.

AFP