Atlético Madrid monitoring Pochettino's situation - reports

After eight years in charge at Atlético Madrid, Diego Simeone is immersed in the most testing period he has faced as coach at the club. The team is in evident decline in comparison to recent seasons, sitting sixth in LaLiga table and already out of contention for the title at the start of February.

Atleti are also out of the Copa del Rey (eliminated by Second Division B side Cultural Leonesa in the Third Round) and face the momentous task of meeting title holders Liverpool in the Champions League with a mounting injury list. With all hopes pinned on Europe this season, Simeone's future could not be more uncertain and according to the UK media, Atlético have started sounding out other options to take over if El Cholo doesn't continue.

The Daily Telegraph report today that Atlético have been closely monitoring Mauricio Pochettino's situation in case they decide to make a managerial change. The report claims that Andrea Berta, Director of Sport at Atlético, is a huge admirer of the Argentine coach and the project he developed at Tottenham. Pochettino admitted recently that he would be keen to return to coaching either in the Premier League or LaLiga.

A competitive coach who develops his playing staff

After his playing days ended in 2006, Pochettino started his coaching career with Espanyol, where he spent four seasons. In 2013, he joined Southampton, saving the team from the drop in his first season and logging an eighth-place finish the next. Tottenham took note. He spent five seasons at Spurs, guiding the team to the Champions League final and finishing as Premier League runners-up in 2016-17. He left the club at the end of last year with a success rate of 51.56% victories in the Premier League.