Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has dismissed his critics in the wake of drawing 1-1 with local rivals Real Madrid in the Madrid derby with an impassioned defence of his record in Spain that should also stand as the ultimate argument as to why he is a leading candidate to takeover as the next manager at Arsenal and Chelsea.
Speaking at his post-match press conference at the Bernabeu Stadium, the 47-year-old told his supporters to take heart in their team's achievements during his reign, especially given how tightly the odds have been stacked against them.
In 2014, the Argentinian delivered the LaLiga title to Atletico for the first time in 18 years, breaking the Barcelona-Real duopoly that had seen the two richest clubs in Spain win the league in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
The Catalans are still unbeaten this campaign and have already reduced the competition to a procession with an 11 point lead over Simeone's side, who have also reached two Champions League finals since their victory in 2014.
"We are up against two superpowers, like Madrid and Barcelona," said the Atletico manager after the game, as reported by BeIN SPORT.
"Teams like PSG and Juve have seen how difficult it is to face them. What we have done in this decade is tremendous, Atletico fans should be proud of how their team is competing."
Simeone saw his latest protégé, Antoine Griezmann, cancel out Cristiano Ronaldo's opener in the second half to secure a draw and a point at the home of his team's fiercest rivals.
Diego Simeone during the Chelsea match back in September (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
"In the first half they were better, but we then started to link up better in midfield and attack," he added. "When they scored we responded immediately, and we saw a game we could win with Koke and Correa. We could have lost without Oblak."
The Atletico head coach also spoke about his future amid on-going rumours that he could soon leave the club he also represented as a player.
"I want the club to keep improving and that's why I'm staying because I think we can keep growing. I try to do everything possible so that everyone who grows the club stays.
"We work to improve the team, and whenever the team improves, the club will improve."
Not the best news for Arsenal and Chelsea fans who covet the Argentinian, at least not in the short-term, but given the situations that both London teams find themselves in, his statements after the match should do little to dissuade his advocates.
If anything, it should reinforce their beliefs that Simeone is the right man for either job. Not only has he built up a reputation for being one of the game's most resourceful managers over the past six years, he has done so by building teams that are defensively resilient, without stifling talent such as Griezmann.
The Gunners and the Blues both find themselves up against superpowers of their own in the Manchester clubs too. With Pep Guardiola at the helm, Manchester City could be set to retain the title they are two wins away from securing, and reigning on into the future.
Manchester United aren't quite the finished article under Jose Mourinho but their commercial empire gives them all the cash they need to stay competitive as the best of the rest if not the top dog.
Simeone is used to working from a position of disadvantage against richer rivals and carries himself with exactly the right mix of ambition, defiance and determination that convinces fans that these gaps can be overcome.
Even his promise to stay at the Wanda Metropolitano is a tick in his favour. Loyalty isn't easy to find in modern football, and if one of Arsenal or Chelsea could secure his services, he would not be a manager easily moved from the dugout once he had his teeth stuck into a project.
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