Simeone: Atletico Madrid aren't the people's club anymore LaLiga Now an established elite side

Diego Simeone is aware that recent changes at Atletico Madrid have diluted their reputation as being the people's club.

Having splashed a lot of money this summer, as well as playing in the modern Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Atleti are some way from what they were when he first took over.

"No, not anymore," Simeone told the newspaper La Nacion when asked if Los Rojiblancos were still the people's team.

"Now we have an extraordinary stadium and next year we'll open a training centre at a level that this club deserves.

"Now with very good management, a stadium and facilities, we can buy players like [Thomas] Lemar and Joao Felix."

Excited as he may be, Simeone is aware that the road is long for Atleti and that work will be required if they are to hit the same heights as recent seasons.

"We have to be realistic," he said, "it's a moment of renewal.

"Important leaders left. We'll have to reinvent ourselves and to do that we can only think about the day to day.

"We always think like that, but maybe that was fading so we have to double down on our philosophy.

"To say we'll fight for the title next season would be premature."

Women's football is continuing to grow in Spain - Atleti are the current LaLiga Iberdrola champions - and Simeone is enjoying watching the sport grow.

"It's a huge, fantastic, wonderful growth," he said.

"It gives girls the chance to develop a game in which it took them a long time to place themselves.

"I see technique and quality, the only differences are the physical strengths, which there will always be.

"But I see a lot of wonderful things in quality and technique and in time we'll get used to watching fantastic World Cups.

"They have talent and creativity."