Gabi: Atletico Madrid suffering toughest spell under Diego Simeone

Atletico Madrid captain Gabi said the team were going through their worst spell under Diego Simeone after Monday's 3-0 defeat at Villarreal.

Atleti have now lost four of their last six La Liga games to fall 12 points behind leaders Real Madrid.

The defeat at El Madrigal equalled the team's worst result since Simeone took charge in December 2011, and they now have their lowest points total after 15 games under the Argentine -- 10 fewer than at this stage last season.

Speaking on Cadena Ser's El Larguero radio show after the game, Gabi said: "It is the most difficult [run], for sure.

"We have had five years of total success, but we need to show that we are a real team.

"Mentally we have to clear our heads, to return to be being this ambitious team which is motivated to win, as soon as possible.

"The only way out of difficult situations is to work hard and be together."

Atletico are now sixth in the table and Gabi said challenging for the title "is going to be very difficult now for sure."

He added: "We should not think about such long-term objectives now. Our objective is to win our next game, to beat Las Palmas [on Saturday].

"Keeping clean sheets used to be our strength. We have to work together more than ever to defend better and take our chances in attack."

Atletico missed chances against Villarreal, with Koke hitting a post at 0-0 and Antoine Griezmann failing with an opportunity at 1-0.

"We're annoyed after the result, which was not what we deserved, but it was a heavy defeat and we're leaving Villarreal hurting," Gabi added.

"We are not having luck in front of goal. We hope this changes as soon as possible.

"All we can do is keep working to turn this situation around. It's clear that criticism will come now, but we must all be together.

"Now we must be more united than ever, not worry about the criticism or look outside."

Atletico Madrid's new stadium to be named 'Wanda Metropolitano'

Atletico have announced plans to move to former athletics stadium La Peineta on the outskirts of Madrid.

Atletico Madrid's new stadium will officially be called the "Wanda Metropolitano," the La Liga club have confirmed.

Atletico first announced plans in 2009 to move from the centrally located Estadio Vicente Calderon to a new home in the former athletics stadium La Peineta on the outskirts of the city.

The project has been hit by various setbacks over the years, but funding from Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group has solidified the club's finances, and Atletico are now aiming to start the 2017-18 season in their new 70,000-seat home.

The news was announced on Friday afternoon by Atletico president Enrique Cerezo at the Calderon, where a new redesign of their club badge was also confirmed.

"We have reached an agreement with Wanda Group to give a name to our new stadium," Cerezo said. "They are without doubt our best travelling partner for this journey. Our new home, our new stadium, will be called Wanda Metropolitano -- a name full of history and future, a perfect name for all Atletico Madrid supporters."

Before their 50 years at the Vicente Calderon, Atletico played from 1923 to 1966 at the Stadium Metropolitano de Madrid -- making it the club's first real permanent home.

Atletico boyhood fan and current centre-forward Fernando Torres said that the new ground's "surname" would bring back emotional memories for the older Rojiblanco supporters -- fitting with a tear-jerking black and white promotional video the club had prepared.

"My grandfather has told me about the Metropolitano, I know what it means for the Atleticos," Torres said. "In these modern times, it is lucky to have a partner like Wanda. For those who have Atleti blood the surname makes us emotional too, it is beautiful. All my memories are at the Calderon, but maybe someday I can tell my grandfather I played at the Metropolitano."

Speaking from Beijing where he had earlier on Friday signed the final agreement with Wanda, Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin said that the partnership between two leading global brands was mutually beneficial.

"Wanda and Atletico are two brands which are growing and are known globally," Gil Marin said. "This will help that continue. The relationship with Wanda makes us more global. The change of stadium is not an isolated act -- it is a step forward towards modernity."

Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin also spoke via video-link to say he was pleased his company were associated with a stadium with the potential to host a Champions League or Europa League final.

"We believe this deal will help grow the name of Wanda in Europe," he said. "I hope some day a European final will be played in the stadium."

Atletico coach Diego Simeone was also present at the event, and showed a characteristic focus on the team's performance on the pitch being most important.

"This is a special day, with a lot of nostalgia, and excitement," Simeone said. "For me the only thing to say is we must win each Sunday."

In October, 48 percent of respondents to a Marca online poll said they would prefer "Estadio Luis Aragones," with 17 percent choosing "Nuevo Calderon" and just 8.5 percent wanting a sponsor's name on their new home.

Claudio Ranieri, Zinedine Zidane among nominees for FIFA coach award

Leicester City's Claudio Ranieri, Portugal's Fernando Santos and Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane are set to be among the frontrunners for the Best FIFA Men's Coach 2016 award after being named on a 10-man shortlist.

Barcelona's Luis Enrique, Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone, Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino and former Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola, now with Manchester City, are also nominated.

Wales coach Chris Coleman is also a contender after leading the nation to the semifinals at Euro 2016, while France boss Didier Deschamps, who led the host nation to the final, completes the shortlist.

However, Santos will be a strong contender after Portugal won the European Championship for the first time in their history, while Zidane led Real Madrid to Champions League glory after taking over from Rafa Benitez in January.

Ranieri, though, defied odds of 5,000-1 to lead Leicester to the Premier League title last season and has overseen a strong start to the club's first ever Champions League campaign this season.

FIFA recently announced that the will be based on the votes of captains and head coaches of national teams around the globe and an online public ballot with football fans and submissions from a selected group of over 200 media representatives.

Best FIFA Men's Coach 2016

Chris Coleman (Wales/Welsh national team), Didier Deschamps (France/French national team), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Bayern Munich/Manchester City), Jurgen Klopp (Germany/Liverpool), Luis Enrique (Spain/FC Barcelona), Mauricio Pochettino (Argentina/Tottenham Hotspur), Claudio Ranieri (Italy/Leicester City), Fernando Santos (Portugal/Portuguese national team), Diego Pablo Simeone (Argentina/Atletico Madrid), Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid).