5 Quick Fixes for Diego Simeone to Make Chelsea Competitive

Diego Simeone is on his way to Chelsea, if new reports are to be believed.

According to Spanish source OK Diario (h/t Sean Kearns at Metro), Simeone has agreed to a deal that will make him the next manager at Chelsea. Per the report, the Argentine will leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season and join the Stamford Bridge club on a contract that pays him £9.28 million per year.

Obviously, this is still just a report, but if Simeone is heading to west London, it's time to start thinking about what he can do to turn Chelsea around. Following their title win in 2014-15, the Blues have slogged through a disappointing season this time around.

Here, Bleacher Report lists five quick fixes Simeone could make if he joins Chelsea.

Win over the Dressing Room

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All was not right at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho this season. As if to illustrate the point, the Portuguese manager hit out at some of his players after what turned his final game in charge. 

"I feel my work is betrayed," he said, per Stuart James at the Guardian. "I worked four days in training for this match. I identified four movements where Leicester score a lot of their goals and in two of the four situations I identified they scored their goals. I went through it all with the players, you can ask them."

Before that, many other signs hinted at unrest within Chelsea's dressing room. Perhaps most notably, striker Diego Costa tossed his training bib in Mourinho's direction after he was benched for a game in December (h/t Oliver Todd at the Daily Mail).

We might never know what exactly went on in Chelsea's dressing room this season, but it was abundantly clear that Mourinho and the players were at odds. Since Guus Hiddink's arrival, the mood has brightened considerably, but Hiddink is a short-term solution.

If and when Simeone takes over, he'll have to deal with ever-increasing player power at Stamford Bridge. But as we've seen during his time at Atletico Madrid, Simeone is a manager who knows how to inspire loyalty in his players.

Solidify the Back Line

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All of Jose Mourinho's best teams have played stout defense. The 2015-16 version of Chelsea was not a great Mourinho team—or even a good one—and defending was, not surprisingly, a big problem.

Consider this: In 2004-05, Chelsea won the title and conceded only 15 goals all season. The following year, the Blues lifted the trophy again after allowing 22. And in 2014-15, the champions let in 32 goals, which is a relatively big number in comparison but still a solid defensive record.

Then consider this: Chelsea sacked Mourinho in mid-December, shortly after the 2-1 defeat to Leicester City. At that point, the Blues had already leaked an alarming 26 goals in only 16 games.

That defensive record has improved under Hiddink, but solidifying the back line will remain a priority for Simeone if he takes the job. Captain, leader and influential center-back John Terry is—as of this moment, at least—on his way out of the club at the end of the season (more on this momentarily). Fellow center-back Kurt Zouma has a long-term injury, and Gary Cahill has been out of favor at times this season.

Meanwhile, full-back Branislav Ivanovic has endured a rough campaign and appears to have lost a step. Almost 32, his best years might be behind him.

With all this in mind, a defensive overhaul seems likely.

Hold on to John Terry

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John Terry is a legend at Chelsea. Since breaking into the senior team in 1998 a few months before his 18th birthday, the center-back has made nearly 500 league appearances.

In the 17-plus years since then, Terry has helped Chelsea win four league titles, five FA Cups, the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. As club captain, he is a massively influential figure at Stamford Bridge, and yet, he's set to depart at the end of the season.

That doesn't seem right. At 35, Terry isn't the force he once was on the pitch, but he can still do a job for Chelsea. More importantly, his continued presence would allow for a level of continuity and cohesion as a new manager takes the reins.

Terry himself revealed that he's leaving because Chelsea declined to renew his contract (h/t Liam Twomey at ESPN FC). But if Simeone wants a smooth transition into his new job, he would be wise to overturn that decision.

Depth at Striker

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Chelsea's primary center-forward is Diego Costa, and as starting strikers go, the Blues could do much, much worse.

During the title-winning campaign in 2014-15, Costa found the back of the net 20 times. For the first half of that season in particular, he and Cesc Fabregas displayed an amazing understanding that proved lethal to opposing defenders.

Although he has returned to form in recent weeks, the Spain international performed poorly during the early part of the current season. That dip in form underlined Chelsea's need to have depth at center-forward—which has been a problem.

Loic Remy is a decent backup but is reportedly itching for more first-team football (h/t Darren Lewis at the Daily Mirror). The Radamel Falcao loan simply hasn't worked out. Alexandre Pato came to the club during the transfer window but is not yet match fit.

Thus, beyond Costa, Chelsea's options are quite limited. Simeone already has a rapport with Costa, having worked with him at Atletico Madrid, so that's a potential positive for Chelsea. But the familiar problem of depth remains.

Solve the Eden Hazard Problem

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Eden Hazard has not been himself this season. 

Actually, that's true for plenty of Chelsea's players, but it's especially true for Hazard. The Belgian was the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2014-15, but after starring throughout the Blues' title-winning campaign, he hasn't found his groove this term.

Just take a look at the stats: In 2014-15, Hazard netted 14 goals in 38 Premier League appearances, adding three in the UEFA Champions League. In 2015-16, he still hasn't scored in the league and currently has just one goal to his name in all competitions.

But Hazard's game is about more than goals. It's about flair and skill, passing and movement, and he looked a shadow of himself under Jose Mourinho this season. Mourinho's departure has allowed some of Chelsea's players more room to express themselves, but Hazard still hasn't really got going.

Is the problem down to the clash between Mourinho and Hazard? And if so, does that mean Hazard can come out of his season-long dip in form?

Or is he simply done at Chelsea?

The latter could be the case. This week, the Belgian was quoted by Le Parisien (h/t Press Association, via the Guardian) as saying: "[It is] difficult to say no to PSG, or to any of the teams capable of winning the Champions League. PSG are now in that category. And for me, winning the Champions League is my main aim."

If and when Simeone takes over at Chelsea, sorting out Hazard's future will be a priority. Whether that involves keeping the Belgian or allowing him to leave, Simeone should do what's best for the club.

Finding a way to coax the best out of Hazard would be ideal, but if he can't be convinced to stay, it will be time to sell.