For his first coaching experience in the elite, Xabi Alonso did not take long to return to the fields of his exploits: the former Real Madrid midfielder will have his first decisive meeting in the Spanish capital, there. where he wrote some of his finest pages as a player.
In this very open group B, everything remains to be played behind Club Brugge, surprising leader with ten points and already qualified for the round of 16.
But for Atlético and Bayer, the calculations are simple: both are forced to win Wednesday to hope to avoid elimination from the group stage.
Worse: in the event of a setback, Bayer will be condemned to a 4th place synonymous with outright elimination, without a consolation ticket for the Europa League.
After having cut his teeth with the reserve team of Real Sociedad, Xabi Alonso landed on the Bayer bench three weeks ago with everything to prove.
And the Basque technician (40 years old) has already been able to measure, on his first matches, all the work he has left to do on the banks of the Rhine.
"To build"
If he shared the same number 14 as Simeone on the pitch, Xabi Alonso adopted a working method diametrically opposed to that of the volcanic Argentine.
At home reign elegance, calm and communication.
"He was an extraordinary player, a footballer of immense class," Simeone recalled on Tuesday.
"He works with a lot of enthusiasm, dedication. You can see that he is trying to replicate what he was putting in place with Real Sociedad. He knows very clearly how he wants his team to play."
Atlético Madrid's Argentinian coach Diego Simeone during a press conference in Majadahonda near Madrid on October 25, 2022 JAVIER SORIANO AFP
Arriving in Leverkusen, Alonso announced that he wanted to restore a winning mentality to his players, words often hammered home by Simeone.
But after four matches, the record is mixed.
If we put aside his very first experience, a demonstration (4-0) at home against Schalke, promoted to the Bundesliga and in difficulty during the first quarter of the championship, Xabi Alonso suffered two severe defeats against Porto at home (3 -0) in the Champions League and Frankfurt in the league (5-1), before a draw against Wolfsburg (2-2) on Saturday.
The 2010 world champion knows it, his main objective is to save Bayer Leverkusen from relegation to the German 2nd division, while the club has not come back down since 1979. The "Werkself" ("eleven from the factory", nickname of the team) are currently in 15th place with nine points, three more than bottom side Bochum.
Hope Griezmann
For Atlético, the task is quite different.
Despite a five-star workforce and a locker room full of stars, the "Colchoneros" approach this meeting with their backs to the wall and with many injuries (Thomas Lemar, captain Koke, Sergio Reguilon or Marcos Llorente).
But it is a position in which the men of "Cholo" Simeone feel comfortable.
Atlético Madrid's French striker Antoine Griezmann after the victory against Real Betis in La Liga, October 23 CRISTINA QUICLER AFP
"There are a thousand footballing concepts. But Simeone is a master in the art of managing a player," praised the Basque on Tuesday.
Led by Antoine Griezmann, who has regained some teeth since his final transfer to Madrid and the signing of his new contract which binds him to the "Rojiblancos" until 2026, Atlético have scored two solid victories on the grounds of Bilbao (1 -0) and Betis Sevilla (2-1), despite a draw against Rayo Vallecano at home (1-1).
"We are finding the Griezmann who left. We are seeing the Griezmann we had again. A leader on the pitch, who finds his place, who understands his teammates and his teammates understand... I am happy for him", slipped Simeone after the success in Seville on Sunday, punctuated by a double from "Grizi".
The connection between the French international and his coach-totem could be key for the 'Rojiblancos' on Wednesday.
If Atlético do not win and Porto win in Bruges beforehand (6:45 p.m.), the Madrid team will no longer be able to play in the round of 16...
© 2022 AFP