Always fear Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid
By Harvey Cruz
Diego Simeone has made Atletico Madrid into a European powerhouse. Now, he’s about to eliminate Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus from the Champions League.
From the moment Diego Simeone became manager of Atletico Madrid, he meant business.
Dec. 23, 2011, and the former Rojiblanco has taken over for Gregorio Manzano. With the club in mid-table, and hovering over the relegation zone, the Argentine knew there was much work ahead of him. Despite not making much ground domestically, the club won the Europa League, beating Atletico Bilbao 3-0 in an all-Spanish final. Simeone had made his mark.
The following seasons would elevate the club’s stature, while also elevating Simeone’s reputation as one of the best managers in the game. In 2013, he lead Atletico to Copa del Rey success against rivals Real at the Bernabeu, beating them for the first time since 1999. The following season, Simeone lead Atleti to the Liga title on the last day against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. It was among the most remarkable feats in the modern history of the game.
That’s the magic of the man, who has proven his tactical nous along the way. Simeone has brought the old-school 4-4-2 formation to the forefront. He has blooded academy players such as Koke, Saul Niguez, Jose Maria Gimenez and others. He’s turned Diego Costa from unknown to a devastating striker, and Antoine Griezmann from winger at Real Sociedad to leading frontman and second striker; it’s paid huge dividends.
“He identifies every player’s weaknesses and tries to improve them, making you a more complete player,” Griezmann has said. “He has helped me grow both on a personal and professional level. He will always ask for the best of me and make me do my best, and I’ll always be there to help him and help win the games,.”
El Cholo has built a European powerhouse, first and foremost, by instilling the stingiest defense in the world. With that, the Vicente Calderon became a fortress under Simeone, and the Wanda Metropolitano is quickly developing into a similarly imposing venue for away teams. That also gives Atleti a special incentive in this season’s Champions League: the Wanda will host the final.
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Atleti would become the first home finalists since Bayern Munich in 2012. In their way is the player who has dominated this competition like no other, Cristiano Ronaldo. In the first leg of their round of 16 tie, Simeone’s side made the most of their home advantage, dominating Juve in a 2-0 win. It was exactly the sort of efficient, upset performance that has become the club’s hall-mark.
Even so, they will face a stern test in Turin in the second leg. Simeone and his side will surely relish the challenge, though, as they always do. Indeed, even with their place among Europe’s elite well-established, one gets the sense Atleti are never better than when they get to play the underdogs, as they showed in the first leg. Should they complete the job on Tuesday, it’ll serve as another reminder to the rest of the field: Always fear Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.