Atletico Madrid to play Shaghai SIPG in Asian tour

Atletico Madrid prepared for their friendly match against Shanghai SIPG in Shanghai on Monday, the last match of their summer Asian tour.

Diego Simeone’s side will play the current leaders of the Chinese Super League in the Shanghai stadium on Tuesday  before returning to Spain to continue preparations for the start of the season.

When asked whether he would manage his national team in the future, Atletico’s Argentine coach Simeone said that it is his goal to do so.

“It is a future goal. I hope destiny gives me that chance. Today (Argentina) has a great coach called Gerardo Martino, who is doing fine and who will probably lead the team in the right direction. Today I focus on Atletico and I work on our present results,” said Simeone at a news conference in Shanghai.

Atletico have made a number of high profile signings this summer, including Jackson Martinez from Porto and Filipe Luis from Chelsea, while Mario Mandzukic and Arda Turan are amongst the players to have left the club.

Striker Fernando Torres, who returned to the Vicente Calderon at the beginning of the year, said he wants to win trophies with Atletico.

“I hope to keep winning. I feel good, wanting to play at a top level. I think we still have many years ahead in which we will play at that top level and I want to enjoy them in this club and win all the trophies I haven’t won with this team. This is my home club and I want to have those memories. I also want fans to enjoy our game. That is the goal. We didn’t make it last year but we will try again this season and the next one as well. My goal in soccer now it to win with this team. That I haven’t done yet,” said the 31-year-old Torres.

Shanghai SIPG lead the Chinese Super League standings, having a narrow one-point lead over four-time champions Guangzhou Evergrande.

The side are managed by Sven Goran Eriksson, who coached Diego Simeone when he was a player at Italian side Lazio.

The Swedish manager praised Simeone’s achievement with Atletico Madrid in La Liga. Atletico won the league title in 2014 and this season finished third behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“I suppose it’s like the careerist of the coach. As a player, he (Deigo Simeone) was at quality, a lot of quality tactical but very very aggressive. Atletico Madrid is a very aggressive team. They don’t allow their opponents to play. So he’s doing a great job with them but it’s like he was as a player. And I understand he likes that type of football,” he added.

Shanghai’s Argentinian midfielder, Dario Conca, acknowledged Atletico are strong opponents but said they will try to get the most out of them on Tuesday.

“They are all good players. They play very well, they have really good quality. We need to pay attention to their strong sides. We all know what qualities he (Fernando Torres) has, what he does best. But if he is playing at Atletico then it is because they are a great team, with very good players. We are going to try and get the most out of how the team plays.”