Simeone: Madrid keeper Courtois wouldn't get in Atletico team

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says his team start the season "third" in La Liga, behing Barcelona and Real Madrid, to "be able to come first" and said that he never thought Antoine Griezmann would leave for Barça before delaring that Thibaut Courtois wold not get in his team. 

"When Real Madrid and Barça have irregular seasons, we're there to be first," Simeone said in an interview with COPE. 

"But we're third [in the race] to be first. We're not first. We had to win the Europa League and we won it, we've got a chance in the Champions League and we're fighting for La Liga, starting from third place. If we come first, it will be a great year. If we come fourth, it won't be. 

"In La Liga, we're competing with the Champions League winners of the last few years. It's tough. But we have to be competing in the top three because the team has grown." 

Equally, Atletico are not worse than Madrid or Barça "from a results point of view" but "in terms of the individual characteristics of the players," even though he feels Atletico are closer to Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus this summer. "Yes, for sure," he said.

Griezmann, THE BEST 

Simeone added: "We have the best footballer in the world from last season. There's no explanation [why he's not on FIFA's The Best shortlist]. World Cup winner, European Super Cup, Europa League, second in La Liga, competing against Madrid and Barcelona, best player in the final of the World Cup... Griezmann was the best player in the world last season." 

The Argentine coach never thought the forward would leave for Barça this summer: "Honestly, no. Honestly. I swear that I didn't ever think he would go. I always felt that he would stay." 

OBLAK VS. COURTOIS 

Finally, Simeone spoke of his surprise that Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak was not on the shortlist for this year's FIFPro team. 

"It's clear that he's the best, or in the top three, goalkeepers in the world," he said. "That he's not on the shortlist gives [the shortlist] little credibility. The world talks about Oblak as the best goalkeeper." 

Asked if Courtois, Atletico's former goalkeeper, now at Madrid, would get into his team, Simeone almost laughed at the idea, saying that Oblak is the better stopper: "Courtois wouldn't get in the team because Oblak is better."