Diego Simeone has dismissed reports suggesting he has lost the dressing room at Atletico Madrid, amid rumours he could be set to succeed Unai Emery in the hot seat at Arsenal.
Atletico have endured a frustrating start to the 2019-20 season, slipping to sixth in La Liga after 15 matches.
A 1-0 defeat at home to Barcelona last weekend compounded their misery, with only one victory recorded from their last seven games across all competitions.
Simeone’s position at Wanda Metropolitano has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with there some suggestion that his reign at the club is nearing its natural conclusion.
The Argentine is among a number of high profile candidates being linked with the job at Arsenal, who are currently on the lookout for their next permanent head coach – with Freddie Ljungberg currently in charge on an interim basis.
“In the eight years that I have been here, it has been said that the group was not with me every year,” Simeone told a press conference.
“There is always a moment of speculation. However, we move forward with patience and lots of energy. I don’t think there has been more criticism than in other seasons.
“The responsibility I have is a lot. I assume it and share it with players, club, people who work in the dressing room.
“We all have a responsibility – mine is important, I assume it and I look for solutions so that everything returns to the best situation, which is to win. When you win, everything looks much better.”
Simeone has urged fans to be patient as the club negotiates their way through a difficult phase, which he believes has seen the rub of the green go against them on a consistent basis.
He added: “Change will come and, instead of hitting the post, the ball will go in. We have to stay patient and know that we’re in a year of transition.”
