Coach Flores aims big for Atletico

MADRID: Atletico Madrid’s new coach Enrico Sanchez Flores said today he aims to see that the club, currently hovering over the relegation zone, qualifies for the Champions League this season.

“I believe in this club and the aim is to see to it that moral returns,” he said. “Atletico must qualify for the Champions League by the end of the season.” Flores signed a deal with Atletico on Friday which will see him through the end of the season, replacing Abel Resino who was sacked earlier in the day.

Former Spanish international “Quique” Flores, 44, has previously been

in charge of Getafe and

Valencia as well as

Benfica where he coached for a season before

leaving this year. Atletico qualified for this year’s Champions League by finishing fourth.

But the club struggled to a 1-1 against nine-man Real Mallorca on Saturday, and have won just one match this season in all competitions. They lie in 17th place in the Primera Liga, just one point off the relegation zone, and are on the brink of elimination from the Champions League. Resino, 49, had been at Atletico since February when he replaced Mexican Javier Aguirre.