Atlético Madrid have confirmed that their coach, Diego Simeone, has tested positive for Coronavirus. The positive result came in their September 11 tests. Simeone is said to be asymptomatic and fulfilling the mandatory quarantine at his home.
Atlético Madrid Confirm Positive Coronavirus Test for Diego Simeone
Nuestro entrenador, Diego Pablo Simeone, ha dado positivo por Covid en las últimas pruebas realizadas ayer; se encuentra asintomático cumpliendo la correspondiente cuarentena en su domicilio.
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) September 12, 2020
Diego Simeone’s Positive Test a Concern
With Atletico’s La Liga season set to get underway on September 27, the club will be concerned with their head coach’s absence for most of the remaining preparation time. Obviously, his health is the priority, but his unavailability will surely impact the team’s early-season performance. Fortunately, Simeone is asymptomatic and should make a full recovery.
League officials will also be concerned as they try to contain the spread of the virus ahead of the new campaign. With player vacations before pre-season, the number of cases have been increasing across world football.
In Spain’s top flight, Simeone joins Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti, six Athletic Bilbao players, and Real Valladolid staff members, as well as many others, in having tested positive for the virus.
Across other leagues, three Paris Saint-Germain players have also tested positive following their vacations.
Looking to Improve
Last Season, Atlético finished third in La Liga, 12 points behind Barcelona. They will now look to improve on that finish, and their Champions League run, as they were eliminated in the quarter-final by RB Leipzig in 2019/20.
The club will look to hold on to their best players, as they are attracting interest from teams all across the world.
Atletico are scheduled to play a friendly with Cadiz on Tuesday. Despite La Liga being underway, Los Rojiblancos’ opening league fixture is set for September 27, when they will host Granada.
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