A 3-0 defeat to Villarreal on Monday saw the 2014
champions drop to sixth in LaLiga, 12 points behind
leaders Real Madrid after 15 matches.
A run of just one win in five league games and further
comments about his interest in taking charge at Inter in
future has led to speculation that Simeone could step down
as coach before the beginning of next season.
And when asked if Simeone's tenure was nearing an
end, Flores, who won the Europa League and UEFA Super
Cup in a two-year spell at the Vicente Calderon, told
Omnisport: "I don't know. I believe he has the right to
choose when to finish his time at Atletico.
"I'm sure he will feel either if his philosophy diminishes
amongst the players or if that message remains strong.
"He's an important guy. He knows who to pick things well
so he will know when it is the best time to leave Atletico."Atletico have won five trophies, including LaLiga and the
Copa del Rey, and reached two Champions League finals
since Simeone took over in 2011.
Espanyol boss Flores says his old club's success in recent
years has come as little surprise given the emerging talent
that he helped to develop.
"We took part in the early stages of that process when they
started winning titles," he said. "When we won that first
Europa League and also the UEFA Super Cup, we realised
that there was a huge potential within the team.
"After us, Simeone took over. The squad was considerably
improved, so was the budget.
"They got so many titles. Valencia and Atletico are big
teams and when you coach them you realise about their
real chances."
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