Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico de Madrid preview - Diego offers Manzano backing

Atletico Madrid playmaker Diego has jumped to the defence of coach Gregorio Manzano by insisting everyone must take responsibility for their difficult start to the season.

The capital side ended a three-match scoreless run at the weekend but still failed to record a much-needed victory as they drew 1-1 at home to lowly Mallorca, leaving them still with just two wins from eight Primera Division games so far.

They face a testing trip to the Basque Country on Thursday where Athletic Bilbao lie in wait and while Brazilian midfielder Diego knows the going is tough, he insists the Atleti squad are all in it together.

"I'm 26 now and this is not the first time I've been in a situation like this," he told Spanish daily newspaper AS. "It's not complicated. But it is time to improve.

"It's a situation which we're all in together and we all have to take responsibility. Not only the coach, but also the players. We have to change together and I am sure that we will change things soon.

"We're not getting the results at the moment and that is what football is all about.

"But we're working to prepare for our next matches better so we're in a position to get better results. There is perhaps some anxiety because of our recent results but we need to stay calm and be patient."

Manzano is expected to make changes to his side but will be hopeful that first-choice striker Radamel Falcao can play after recovering from injury but struggling with gastroenteritis in recent days.

Manzano's opposite number at Athletic, Marcelo Bielsa, has also endured some criticism as the colourful Argentinian looks to mould his squad.

Star striker Fernando Llorente has remained firmly behind the coach, however, and admits that faith is paying dividends.

"We never stopped trusting him despite us not having a good start," the Basque forward told Marca.

"He works to make each player better every day. He thinks only of football and he lives for it. He's a great motivator."

Athletic are still reeling from the news midfielder Carlos Gurpegi will be out for some time with ligament damage, though Bielsa has no other new injury concerns.