Spain face Macedonia in their next World Cup qualifier on Saturday and ahead of the fixture, Diego Costa is back in the country and met up with an old friend. Having dinner with Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital, the Chelsea striker posted on Instagram after a 'great reunion with great memories'. Costa signed for Los Rojiblancos in 2010 but it was the Argentine's employment the following year that brought the best out of him, before leaving for West London in 2014. However, Simeone and Atleti made a big play to re-sign the Spaniard last summer to no avail as Chelsea boss Antonio Conte demanded Costa stay, banging in nine goals since the season began.
Miguel Munoz Coach of the Year prize at the MARCA awards ceremony, Diego Simeone is refusing to rest on his laurels, and admitted that his team must work hard to improve after their defeat against Real Sociedad on Saturday. El Cholo beat off competition from Luis Enrique of Barcelona and Athletic Club's Ernesto Valverde to scoop the prestigious award, paying tribute to his players and technical staff for helping him to succeed at the Estadio Vicente Calderon. "This award speaks highly of the work done by the team and reflects well on me, but it is a collective effort," he said on the red carpet. "I am aware of the need to improve... We must continue to improve, continue to compete, but where we are, in the second round of the Champions League two games before the end of the group stages is good."
After a promising start to the season that saw them leap into first place in LaLiga, the Colchoneros have experienced something of a slump in recent weeks.And with the Madrid derby next up, Simeone is expecting his team to work hard on the training ground to put things right. "The best cure [for a defeat] is good training so things go well next time."Jan Oblak's Atletico Madrid teammates in helping him to winthe Zamora trophy for the 2015/16 season were hailed by the goalkeeper on Monday night. With an astonishing record of just 18 goals conceded in 38 LaLiga matches, the former Benfica man equalled former Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper Francisco Liano's long-standing all-time record. Currently away with his national team, the 23-year-old was absent from the MARCA awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday evening, but left a message for people at the event that included a tribute to his Atletico Madrid colleagues. "I want to thank my teammates and coaches, who help me to play in the best way and to concede the fewest number of goals," he said.
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