Abel Resino sacked by Atletico Madrid following Chelsea defeat

23 October 2009 09:56
The struggling Primera Division club decided to act in the wake of Wednesday night's 4-0 Champions League thrashing by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. [LNB]That defeat, which has left Atletico with just one point from three games in Group D and in grave danger of missing out on a place in the last 16, was the latest in a series of setbacks this season for the club, who have also won just once in seven league games.[LNB]Resino took over as coach of Atletico in February following the dismissal of Javier Aguirre, with the former Rojiblancos goalkeeper initially being put in charge until the end of last season. [LNB]Resino, who had been in charge of Segunda Division high-flyers Castellon at the time, went on to lead Atletico to a fourth-placed finish lastseason after winning eight of their final nine games and that earned the 49-year-old an extended stint. [LNB]Atletico have not been able to carry that form into this season though, and a 3-0 opening day defeat to Malaga warned of troubled times ahead. [LNB]Since then, the nine-times Spanish champions have suffered further heavy losses to Barcelona (5-2) and Osasuna (3-0) in the league, and also incurred the wrath of their increasingly disgruntled fans following disappointing home draws against Racing Santander, Almeria and Apoel Nicosia. [LNB]Overall, Resino leaves Atletico in 15th place in the league with six points and the worst goals-against record in the division having conceded 17. [LNB]This weekend Atletico play host to Real Mallorca, before facing Marbella in the first leg of their Copa del Rey round of 32 next midweek. [LNB][LNB]

Source: Telegraph