体坛英语新闻：Quique on the brink as Atletico Madrid lose again

MADRID, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores is on the verge of being sacked after his side was beaten 2-1 at home to Valencia on Saturday night.

Goals from Joaquin Sanchez at the end of either half helped Valencia come back from behind after conceding a third minute goal from Jose Antonio Reyes.

Diego Forlan missed a 58th minute penalty and Atletico defender Diego Godin was sent off in the closing minutes to end a thoroughly miserable night for Atletico Madrid's fans, players and their coach.

Atletico have won just one game in 2011 and have lost their last five matches in all competitions, with tonight's goal the first time they have scored in those five encounters.

The club now sits 15 points off the top four and a place in next season's Champions League looks impossible.

Despite taking the club to victory in last season's Europa League and this season's European Supercup, Quique's position as coach had been questioned all week and although club President, Enrique Cerezo has said that he has a contract until the end of the season, he has refused to confirm the Atletico coach in his post.

"I feel stronger than ever. I have finished the game with my moral high, I am going to stay in the mud and I am going to give everything to get us out of this," said Quique at the post match press conference.

"I have been ratified by the club and the President and now all we can do is keep on trying. Everything is negative and everything is against us, but I feel stronger every day," he insisted.

"I am sacked now, I will still earn the same money, but I don't want that I want to stay here and give everything for the club and my players," said Quique.