Real Madrid News
Atletico boss Simeone ready for derby showdown against Real Madrid: ‘Enormous tension and excitement’
Real Madrid will face off against bitter rivals Atletico Madrid tomorrow in La Liga in the first derby of the 2026/27 season.
The Merengues have made a positive start to the season, winning six of their seven matches in all competitions so far.
But a derby against Atletico is never easy, especially away at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, where Real Madrid have not had the best fortune in recent years.
It will be a major test for Jose Mourinho who will go up against his former adversary, Diego Simeone, in one of the most highly anticipated fixtures of this weekend.
Ahead of tomorrow’s derby day, Simeone addressed the media in his pre-match press conference, discussing various things, including the availability of Julian Alvarez and his relationship with Mourinho.
On facing Real Madrid
Talking about the importance of the derby and what it meant for Atletico Madrid to get one over Real Madrid in these clashes, Simeone remarked;
“A derby is different. There’s enormous tension and excitement because of the rivalry, because of the competitiveness we’ve managed to rebuild over the last fifteen years. Confidence is a key factor in this match.”
Atleti go into the game on the back of strong performances against Real Sociedad and CA Osasuna, but Simeone refused to read much into it, saying:
“The previous match has nothing to do with the city derby. I don’t think it’s directly linked to Sunday’s match. They are two teams with good players and we have to take the game to where we can cause them problems,” he said.
Respect for Mourinho and key factors in the match
Discussing the key factors that could decide the derby tomorrow, Simeone explained:
“The characteristics of each team. They’ll have a better transition than ours, more direct… They’re powerful, strong players who capitalise on that.
“We have to read the game as well as possible so that they don’t feel too comfortable in their rapid transitions.”
Touching upon the topic of new Real Madrid Mourinho, Simeone expressed a great deal of respect for the Portuguese tactician, saying:
“I don’t feel like talking about something from so many years ago. I have enormous respect for Mourinho. I’m a great admirer of his; he knows how highly I regard him.
“Hopefully we can compete as we have done whenever we’ve come up against each other.”
Crucially, Simeone also confirmed that Atletico Madrid superstar Julian Alvarez will be fit and available for the derby, saying:
“He’ll be with us. We’ll decide whether he starts or comes on in the second half.”
Source: AS
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
