Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, a month on from a second Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in three years, has made it clear that his immediate future is with the Spanish club. 
 
The Argentine, who has been at Atletico since 2011 and is under contract for another four years, said after the loss on penalties to Real that he wanted to explore his options. But now he says he is only concentrating on making the team better. 
 
&quot;I spoke in the heat of the moment,&quot; Simeone told reporters on Wednesday in Buenos Aires. &quot;We Argentinians are like that. Others are not at fault for beating you, I learned that a long time ago. 
 
&quot;To remember the pain and the suffering is necessary to better yourself.&quot; 
 
Simeone has won the Europa League, King&#39;s Cup and La Liga in his four-and-a-half seasons at the Spanish club. 
 
The 46-year-old says only a few teams that have &quot;more resources&quot; are superior to Atletico and expects his side to continue to fight for titles domestically and internationally. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t believe there are many teams better than us,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;We have created a strong group. To be better than Atletico is very difficult because we play as a team. Only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are better than Atletico, no one else. We are constantly anxious to improve.&quot; 
 
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo is looking to keep the same core of players while also bringing in reinforcements. 
 
French forward Antoine Griezmann, who scored 32 goals in 51 appearances for Atletico this season, signed a one-year contract extension earlier this month. 
 
Atletico have agreed to sign Argentine midfielder Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica and are looking to strengthen their attack. 
 
&quot;The aim is to improve from last season,&quot; Cerezo told reporters on Wednesday. &quot;I know what Atletico needs and that is why we are working well and we will bring in players and good ones.&quot; 
 
&quot;We have turned down offers of millions for almost every player that we have and we will assume that financial weight in order to maintain the backbone of this team and for the important players to remain here.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The Argentine, who has been at Atletico since 2011, is under contract for another four years, and wants to make the team better

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, a month on from a second Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in three years, has made it clear that his immediate future is with the Spanish club. The Argentine, who has been at Atletico since 2011 and is under contract for another four years, said after the loss on penalties to Real that he wanted to explore his options. But now he says he is only concentrating on making the team better. "I spoke in the heat of the moment," Simeone told reporters on Wednesday in Buenos Aires. "We Argentinians are like that. Others are not at fault for beating you, I learned that a long time ago. "To remember the pain and the suffering is necessary to better yourself." Simeone has won the Europa League, King's Cup and La Liga in his four-and-a-half seasons at the Spanish club. The 46-year-old says only a few teams that have "more resources" are superior to Atletico and expects his side to continue to fight for titles domestically and internationally. "I don't believe there are many teams better than us," he said. "We have created a strong group. To be better than Atletico is very difficult because we play as a team. Only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are better than Atletico, no one else. We are constantly anxious to improve." Atletico president Enrique Cerezo is looking to keep the same core of players while also bringing in reinforcements. French forward Antoine Griezmann, who scored 32 goals in 51 appearances for Atletico this season, signed a one-year contract extension earlier this month. Atletico have agreed to sign Argentine midfielder Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica and are looking to strengthen their attack. "The aim is to improve from last season," Cerezo told reporters on Wednesday. "I know what Atletico needs and that is why we are working well and we will bring in players and good ones." "We have turned down offers of millions for almost every player that we have and we will assume that financial weight in order to maintain the backbone of this team and for the important players to remain here." (Reuters)

Simeone vows to stay on and improve Atletico

Argentina head coach Gerardo Martino resigned on Tuesday, deepening the chaos in the frustrated squad a month before the Olympics after its star striker Lionel Messi also quit.&nbsp;In a statement published by the Argentina Football Association (AFA), Martino said he and his coaching staff quit due to management disputes in the body and difficulties in getting the squad together in time for the Olympics. 
 
The blow came less than two weeks after Messi said he was quitting following defeat to Chile in the Copa America Centenario, sparking demonstrations by fans desperate for him to stay.&nbsp;The crisis in the national squad laid bare managerial squabbles in the AFA that are blamed for disrupting the organisation of Argentina&#39;s favourite sport. 
 
Martino&#39;s decision was &quot;due to the lack of clarity in the naming of new leaders for the association and the serious inconveniences in forming a squad to represent the country in the coming Olympic Games&quot;, the statement said. 
 
Argentine media said Martino was frustrated at clubs not releasing players for the national squad. Key players such as Paulo Dybala of Juventus and Mauro Icardi of Inter have not been released. 
 
Former Barcelona coach Martino, 53, took over the Argentina team in the wake of the 2014 World Cup, in which they were beaten 1-0 by Germany after extra time in the final.&nbsp;He guided Argentina to 29 wins, seven draws and three defeats.&nbsp;He led the team to the Copa America final last year and again last month in the centenary edition. They were beaten both times by Chile on penalties. 
 
The June 26 defeat this year was Argentina&#39;s third consecutive loss in a major international final. They have gone 23 years without a major title.&nbsp;&quot;Losing again is too great a pain,&quot; Martino said after that defeat. 
 
Martino comes from the same northern city as Messi, Rosario.&nbsp;As well as clubs in Spain, Ecuador and Chile, he played briefly for Argentina but was eclipsed by his contemporary Diego Maradona.&nbsp;He guided Paraguay as far as the quarter finals of the 2010 World Cup as its national coach. 
 
He returned as coach to his first club, Newell&#39;s Old Boys, and won the Argentine league with them in 2013 before a trophy-free season with Spanish giants Barcelona.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the AFA is in crisis and its management has been criticised by the likes of Messi and Maradona. 
 
Before leaving for the Copa in the United States, Martino said that the AFA owed him six months&#39; pay.&nbsp;Former AFA head Luis Segura quit last week amid a dispute over how the leagues should be organised.&nbsp;Major clubs want to break away and form a &quot;super-league&quot; to get bigger broadcasting revenues. 
 
The president of the Argentine Olympic committee, Gerardo Werthein, warned on the radio shortly before Tuesday&#39;s announcement that there was &quot;50 per cent chance&quot; Argentina would miss the Olympic football competition.&nbsp;The Olympics run from August 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro, following which the country will look to the World Cup in Russia in 2018. 
 
Argentina&#39;s great rival Brazil has also switched coaches just ahead of the Olympics.&nbsp;They sacked coach Dunga after their group-stage exit from the Copa America and replaced him with ex-Corinthians boss Tite. But Olympic coach Rogerio Micale will take them to the Games. 
 
(AFP)

Gerardo quit due to management issues in the Argentina Football Association and difficulties in getting a squad together for Rio 2016

Argentina head coach Gerardo Martino resigned on Tuesday, deepening the chaos in the frustrated squad a month before the Olympics after its star striker Lionel Messi also quit. In a statement published by the Argentina Football Association (AFA), Martino said he and his coaching staff quit due to management disputes in the body and difficulties in getting the squad together in time for the Olympics. The blow came less than two weeks after Messi said he was quitting following defeat to Chile in the Copa America Centenario, sparking demonstrations by fans desperate for him to stay. The crisis in the national squad laid bare managerial squabbles in the AFA that are blamed for disrupting the organisation of Argentina's favourite sport. Martino's decision was "due to the lack of clarity in the naming of new leaders for the association and the serious inconveniences in forming a squad to represent the country in the coming Olympic Games", the statement said. Argentine media said Martino was frustrated at clubs not releasing players for the national squad. Key players such as Paulo Dybala of Juventus and Mauro Icardi of Inter have not been released. Former Barcelona coach Martino, 53, took over the Argentina team in the wake of the 2014 World Cup, in which they were beaten 1-0 by Germany after extra time in the final. He guided Argentina to 29 wins, seven draws and three defeats. He led the team to the Copa America final last year and again last month in the centenary edition. They were beaten both times by Chile on penalties. The June 26 defeat this year was Argentina's third consecutive loss in a major international final. They have gone 23 years without a major title. "Losing again is too great a pain," Martino said after that defeat. Martino comes from the same northern city as Messi, Rosario. As well as clubs in Spain, Ecuador and Chile, he played briefly for Argentina but was eclipsed by his contemporary Diego Maradona. He guided Paraguay as far as the quarter finals of the 2010 World Cup as its national coach. He returned as coach to his first club, Newell's Old Boys, and won the Argentine league with them in 2013 before a trophy-free season with Spanish giants Barcelona. Meanwhile, the AFA is in crisis and its management has been criticised by the likes of Messi and Maradona. Before leaving for the Copa in the United States, Martino said that the AFA owed him six months' pay. Former AFA head Luis Segura quit last week amid a dispute over how the leagues should be organised. Major clubs want to break away and form a "super-league" to get bigger broadcasting revenues. The president of the Argentine Olympic committee, Gerardo Werthein, warned on the radio shortly before Tuesday's announcement that there was "50 per cent chance" Argentina would miss the Olympic football competition. The Olympics run from August 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro, following which the country will look to the World Cup in Russia in 2018. Argentina's great rival Brazil has also switched coaches just ahead of the Olympics. They sacked coach Dunga after their group-stage exit from the Copa America and replaced him with ex-Corinthians boss Tite. But Olympic coach Rogerio Micale will take them to the Games. (AFP)

Argentina coach Martino resigns over Olympic chaos

A statue of Argentina soccer star Lionel Messi was unveiled in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, just days after the Barcelona forward announced he was walking away from international play. 
 
The statue was uncovered by Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, who said the inauguration of the statue was just on time to call on Messi to reconsider his decision to leave the national team. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a very opportune moment we have today with the inauguration of his statue. And I think a good way to ask Lio to come with us, for him to remain together with us and for him to take us by the hand and to win, and I don&#39;t have any doubts that we&#39;d win the World Cup in Russia, is for those who can, Portenos or Argentines who come here to visit; to come, take your picture with the statue of Lio and post it on social media as a way to ask Lio to stick with us,&quot; Rodriguez Larreta said. 
 
Argentina&#39;s failure to defeat Chile in the final of the Copa America Centenario in the United States, a fourth lost final with the national team for Messi, proved too much for the little magician, leading him to quit international football on June 26. 
 
Taking into account the Confederations Cup, Argentina have lost seven major finals since 1995, three of them to arch-rivals Brazil, and four since Messi&#39;s debut in 2005, including the 2014 World Cup final defeat by Germany. 
 
Members from Argentina&#39;s 1986 World Cup championship team also weighed in on Messi&#39;s departure. 
 
&quot;I think it is just a hot moment, of frustration for not being able to achieve anything, but hopefully, God willing, he will reevaluate what he said and remain on the national team,&quot; said Hector Enrique of the 1986 squad. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s nothing to say to Messi. He just needs to talk with himself and his family,&quot; said Carlos Bilbardo who led the 1986 team as coach. 
 
&quot;Messi&#39;s retirement is due to the difficult moment he is going through. It is definitely his toughest moment as far as soccer goes, but I don&#39;t think this is the end. He will analyse it, evaluate it, and Messi is going to continue to play with the Argentine national team. Maybe that&#39;s just what I think. We&#39;ll have to see how he feels,&quot; added Luis Islas who was a substitute goalkeeper for the 1986 side. 
 
Messi&#39;s only major international honour has been Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, even though at club level he has won four Champions Leagues with Spain&#39;s Barcelona. 
 
Messi has been named World Player of the year five times and he surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina&#39;s top scorer in the Copa America semi-final against the United States. 
 
The statue, made of polyester resin and reinforced fibreglass built around a medal interior, was designed by realist sculptor Carlos Benavidez. 
 
The statue stands at Buenos Aires&#39; Paseo de la Gloria &quot;Glory Way&quot; which honours national sports heroes in the city&#39;s Costanera Sur Park near the Puerto Madero neighbourhood. 
 
(Reuters)

Lionel Messi statue stands at Buenos Aires' 'Glory Way', in a city park honouring national sports heroes

A statue of Argentina soccer star Lionel Messi was unveiled in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, just days after the Barcelona forward announced he was walking away from international play. The statue was uncovered by Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, who said the inauguration of the statue was just on time to call on Messi to reconsider his decision to leave the national team. "It's a very opportune moment we have today with the inauguration of his statue. And I think a good way to ask Lio to come with us, for him to remain together with us and for him to take us by the hand and to win, and I don't have any doubts that we'd win the World Cup in Russia, is for those who can, Portenos or Argentines who come here to visit; to come, take your picture with the statue of Lio and post it on social media as a way to ask Lio to stick with us," Rodriguez Larreta said. Argentina's failure to defeat Chile in the final of the Copa America Centenario in the United States, a fourth lost final with the national team for Messi, proved too much for the little magician, leading him to quit international football on June 26. Taking into account the Confederations Cup, Argentina have lost seven major finals since 1995, three of them to arch-rivals Brazil, and four since Messi's debut in 2005, including the 2014 World Cup final defeat by Germany. Members from Argentina's 1986 World Cup championship team also weighed in on Messi's departure. "I think it is just a hot moment, of frustration for not being able to achieve anything, but hopefully, God willing, he will reevaluate what he said and remain on the national team," said Hector Enrique of the 1986 squad. "There's nothing to say to Messi. He just needs to talk with himself and his family," said Carlos Bilbardo who led the 1986 team as coach. "Messi's retirement is due to the difficult moment he is going through. It is definitely his toughest moment as far as soccer goes, but I don't think this is the end. He will analyse it, evaluate it, and Messi is going to continue to play with the Argentine national team. Maybe that's just what I think. We'll have to see how he feels," added Luis Islas who was a substitute goalkeeper for the 1986 side. Messi's only major international honour has been Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, even though at club level he has won four Champions Leagues with Spain's Barcelona. Messi has been named World Player of the year five times and he surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina's top scorer in the Copa America semi-final against the United States. The statue, made of polyester resin and reinforced fibreglass built around a medal interior, was designed by realist sculptor Carlos Benavidez. The statue stands at Buenos Aires' Paseo de la Gloria "Glory Way" which honours national sports heroes in the city's Costanera Sur Park near the Puerto Madero neighbourhood. (Reuters)

Argentina inaugurates Messi statue days after legend announces retirement from international play

buenos-aires

Buenos Aires, News on Buenos Aires, stories on Buenos Aires, articles on Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires stories at Wion, Buenos Aires news, Buenos Aires latest news

buenos aires

Simeone vows to stay on and improve Atletico

Argentina coach Martino resigns over Olympic chaos

Argentina inaugurates Messi statue days after legend announces retirement from international play