Jose Maria Gimenez and the soul of Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid - "You have to fight"

Atletico de Madrid are a team built in the identity of Diego Simeone on the touchline - and that spirit is epitomised on the pitch by Jose Maria Gimenez.

The centre-back, 27, joined the club as a teenager from little-known Uruguayan side Danubio back in 2013 and has been a mainstay in Simeone’s ranks ever since.

Since being spotted from his homeland, Gimenez has become one of Simeone’s most trusted figures and played over 200 games for the club.

He has been part of some of Atletico ’s most successful years, including lifting the LaLiga trophy last year for the second time, and admits he will be “grateful eternally” for his manager's trust.

“You all know who Diego Simeone is for the players and for the club itself,” Gimenez says.

“On a personal level, I’ve been here now for 10 years. I never left and was never loaned out, and at the end of the day I’m very grateful.

“What I’ve always done is do my utmost out on the pitch for the club and for Simeone. I’ve played big games and played at World Cup matches, and a lot of this is down to Simeone.

“He always trusted me, always believed in me. He has always been there to teach us, and you continue to learn all the time. He’s there on a daily basis. It’s obvious he’s a very key part of my career, and I will be grateful eternally for him.”

Speaking to Gimenez, it is easy to see how he fits into Simeone’s philosophy, which is underlined by passion, fight and a desire to defy the odds.

Gimenez was left in tears as a teenager when Penarol, his boyhood club and one of the biggest in Uruguay, released him and told him he didn’t have what it takes to play football.

His response was ingrained in him from his father, and bares similarities to the message and attitude Simeone brings to