Former Spain coach Javier Clemente has rapped Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid players as their title push wobbles.

Atletico lost to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday so giving Barcelona the chance to take the LaLiga leadership in midweek. Barca, two points behind leaders Atletico, have a game in hand and will play this week against Granada.

Atletico have now lost twice in their last five games and Clemente, who is a former Athletic Club coach, says Simeone and his players are forgetting the principles set out by former Atletico Madrid coach Luis Aragones.

Clemente told Radio Marca via Mundo Deportivo: “Football is very big. You think that two and two is four and it is not like that.

"Luis Aragonés always said that the first round (of a season) is to get into position, the beginning of the second is to be taking positions and in the last 10 games the championship is won.

"It turns out that Atleti goes like a cane in the first round and suddenly leaves it. They fight and forget to play. It has left the foundation of Luis Aragonés, which is that the last 10 games are key but by playing football and working hard."

Aragones, who like Clemente was coach of Spain, enjoyed four different spells in charge of Atletico Madrid, winning one LaLiga title and three Copa del Rey final victories.

Meanwhile, on the Athletic Club defeat, Clemente added: "I saw Atlético fighting in defence, but they forgot the other side, that in addition to fighting, you have to play well. The Atleti yesterday came out like a headless chicken."

Atletico Madrid are next in action on Saturday when they go to Elche.

- updated April 27