Malaga vs Atletico de Madrid preview - Simeone reign to start

Posted Saturday, January 07, 2012 by PA

Atletico Madrid winger Salvio has described their trip to Malaga as a "litmus test" as the Rojiblancos aim to open the reign of new boss Diego Simeone with a win.

Simeone returned to the Vicente Calderon over the winter break - he made more than 125 appearances for the club in two spells as a player - as successor to the sacked Gregorio Manzano.

Atletico underperformed over the first half of the season, winning just five of 16 Primera Division games, but Salvio is hoping Simeone's arrival will spark an improvement.

He told a press conference: "We all want an athletic, more aggressive Atletico which will be a tough rival, both at home and abroad.

"We are looking forward to starting off (under Simeone) in the best possible way."

The Argentinian accepts a trip to La Rosaleda represents a tricky return to action, however.

"We are preparing for the game well but we know they are a very tough opponent with good players, so it will be a litmus test for us," he said.

"We will all have to give 100% to move forward."

On a personal level, Salvio was not sure whether countryman Simeone's arrival would improve his own prospects.

"I will continue working as I did under Manzano. He (Simeone) knows me from Argentina but all coaches are different," he said.

"Perhaps he will see me in a way Manzano didn't but everyone has their own taste. He can count on me."

Malaga, who recruited heavily over the summer, come into the clash in seventh place but on the back of a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night.

The visitors led 2-0 after 29 minutes but conceded three times in the second half as Madrid claimed a narrow first-leg advantage.

Defender Martin Demichelis, who got on the scoresheet at the Bernabeu, admits it is important they get over the psychological damage as quickly as possible.

"After an ugly loss the feeling lasts until the next game," he told the AS newspaper.

"But you have to remain positive and train well with a positive mindset."