text: One of Diego Simeone’s many managerial mantras – and there are already enough to fill a volume that would rival Louis van Gaal’s Biographie & Vision – is: ‘I always think that tomorrow I could be sacked’. It perfectly illustrates his work ethic and his obsession with guarding against complacency but even he must know that right now no-one is further from the chop than the 44-year-old coach who took Atletico Madrid to the title last season and leads them into the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday night. There was a communal sigh let-out across several boardrooms of top European football clubs two weeks ago when he put pen to paper on a new deal that ties him to the club until 2019. Diego Simeone shows off his playing skills as he prepare Atletico Madrid for their Champions League clash . Simeone talks to his squad ahead of Real Madrid's visit on Tuesday night in the quarter final first leg . Sporting directors from Manchester to Milan were watching his situation carefully and the new four year contract with the option of a fifth season appears to have ended his chances of arriving in Italy or England this summer. Back home in Madrid the Atletico supporters were delirious at the news. Never mind that last year’s title will not be repeated this season. The fans have long enough memories to remember how bad things were back in December 2011, before his appointment. Current Chelsea striker Diego Costa would also remember that period well. He was just about to return from a cruciate ligament injury that had sidelined him for three months. The Argentinian manager has imposed his incredible work ethic on his players since joining Atletico . Simeone has turned Atletico around since joining in December 2011, and recently extended his deal . His Atletico Madrid team-mates were stagnating under coach Gregorio Manzano and had just been knocked out of the Cup by a third division side, Albacete. Costa had previously been out on loan at Albacete and had the good grace to go into their dressing-room after the game and congratulate his former team-mates on their giantkilling scalp. Back in his own dressing room the mood was bleak. The team were closer to the relegation zone than the European places and Manzano was soon sacked and replaced by Simeone. Sceptics said his inexperience as a coach in Europe would prevent him succeeding. Romantics said the former captain and double winner at Atletico would bring back the glory days. The romantics were right. Without Costa, who was at first loaned out to Rayo Vallecano, Simeone’s Atletico won the Europa League and the European Super Cup. Costa returned to help them win the Copa del Rey and the league as well as making last season’s Champions League final. That final in Lisbon seemed to put Real back on top in the Spanish capital but Simeone’s noisy neighbours have refused to pipe-down. In the six subsequent matches between the two sides they have not let Real win a single game. In the two-legged Spanish Super Cup at the start of the season Atletico drew 1-1 in the Bernabeu and beat Real 1-0 in the Calderon. They then went to the Bernabeu in the league and won 2-1. Saul scores a brilliant bicycle kick during the 4-0 win over Real at the Vicente Calderon earlier this season . Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were unable to do anything to prevent Atletico's dominance in February . And when the two teams were drawn against each other in the Copa del Rey Atletico won the first leg 2-0 and then drew the second. Worse was to come for Real Madrid in the League in February when they lost the away fixture 4-0. This season Atletico Madrid are not going to win the league but no one is ruling out another tilt at the prize they were seconds from winning last season – leading from Diego Godin’s goal until the last minute when Sergio Ramos scored to take the match to extra time. Atletico players had told anyone who would listen throughout last season that while they didn’t give themselves much of a chance in La Liga up against the stronger squads of Real Madrid and Barcelona, they did fancy themselves in the Champions League – ‘we can beat anyone over two legs’ was the message and that still stands. They showed tremendous resilience to come through against Bayer Leverkusen in the last round with Fernando Torres scoring the last penalty of the shoot-out. Ronaldo scored the fourth goal in Real Madrid's win over their rivals in last year's Champions League final . Simeone's players watch on after losing out in Lisbon, but are determined to bounce back this year . He put through his own net at the weekend in the league typifying that faltering league form and will probably make way for Mario Mandzukic Tuesday. The battering-ram bought from Bayern in the summer to replace Costa has not always met Simeone’s demands for constant pressing of the opposition’s defence this season. After a fall-out with Simone, who in one recent match was visibly furious with his striker, a fragile truce has been called although the likes of PSG’s Edinson Cavani and Villarreal’s Luciano Vietto are being looked at as replacements for next season. Mandzukic told his manager recently that he had regularly played through injury and wanted resting. He was obliged, and now looks set to be brought back in to face Pepe and Sergio Ramos. Former Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic (behind) is set to start alongside Antoine Griezmann . Mandzukic has patched up his relationship with Simeone and will play ahead of Fernando Torres on Tuesday . Tuesday night may well be as much about keeping a clean sheet as scoring. Ronaldo returns the scene of Madrid’s biggest crime this season – that 4-0 defeat in the league on the day he celebrated his 30th birthday. Sometimes in training Simeone likes to play a very special game of attack against defence. He lines up a first team back seven against 14 youth teamers. He’s proud of the first-team defences’ ability to keep the ball out of their goal despite being outnumbered two to one. Whether 14 youth team players amounts to more or less than Gareth Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema is open to debate. But then again those three were all on the pitch back in February for the 4-0 Atletico win and they never got anywhere near a goal. Tuesday night is a chance for Real Madrid to avenge that defeat, but it’ s also another chance for Simeone to show once again that in the Spanish capital he is the boss.
target: Real Madrid face Atletico in Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday .
  Atletico have won four and drawn two against Real Madrid this season .
  Simeone looking to avenge last year's Champions League final defeat .
  Atletico won't retain La Liga title, but believe they can challenge in Europe .
  READ: Fernando Torres credits Simeone as key to Atletico Madrid success .