A lot has been written about the supposedly bad relationship between Diego Simeone, known as "El Cholo", and Jürgen Klopp.

It all began in 2020 in the round of 16 of the Champions League, when Klopp with Liverpool after two defeats (0: 1 and 2: 3) mused publicly in the press conference about Atlético's defensive tactics: "With the quality they have, they could do it right play good football," said the Liverpool coach, "and not just stand around in their own half and wait for a counterattack." After the first leg, he also wondered if Simeone had seen anything of the game.

Most of the time he looked at the stands with his back to the game.

The Argentine didn't think it was the fine English way, and even if Klopp tried several times to straighten everything out, the two will probably never be good friends again.

Also this Wednesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on DAZN) Simeone meets an opponent with a completely different understanding of the game in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

With Pep Guardiola's possession football, Manchester City narrowly overcame Simeone's defensive bulwark in the first leg, and it was 1-0 in the end.

But Guardiola does not complain.

"El Cholo, before he became a coach at Atlético, came to train with us in Barcelona for a few days, it was wonderful," said Pep Guardiola a few years ago on Spanish television.

Simeone's reaction to the training was: "I don't like it at all, I don't feel it." And Guardiola wasn't offended at all and chose a very special superlative in Spanish: "Ostia, how good is that!

That's exactly what it's all about!” What was meant was: coaches don't just choose tactical variants, they are the authors of their team.

“It will still be the same in 100,000 years”

In the notion that behind every tactic there must be a conviction, Guardiola and Simeone are arguably soul mates.

Even if there are completely different game ideas and Guardiola's patient short-pass football meets Simeone's defensive battles.

It's not just Klopp who's wondering whether Atlético couldn't play differently, what wonderful attacking football it would be if Simeone let his two fast strikers Griezmann and João Félix off the leash, fed with balls from technically strong and experienced players like Koke in the midfield.

But even if Simeone allows this once, he seems to regret it quickly.

In the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Manchester City, Atlético took to the field with a 5-3-2 tactic.

But even in the early stages, he found that his defense was not good and ordered his two wingers to the back.

The "Skyblues" from Manchester played against a double defensive block of five players each, had 70 percent possession of the ball, nine corners and also won almost 60 percent of the duels.

But a goal didn't want to fall for a long time.

Only 20 minutes before the end Foden managed a pass through countless defending legs into the penalty area.

De Bruyne thoughtfully scored the only goal of the evening.

The coaches were nice to each other afterwards and didn't complain a syllable: "They are the masters of defense and are very compact at the back," said Guardiola after the difficult game.

“Since ancient times we have known that it is very difficult to play an attacking game against such a team.

And that will still be the case in 100,000 years, there is no space," said the Catalan, laughing.

"If they replace three, three exceptional players leave the field and three come on who are even better," Simeone praised the opponent's quality in a similarly friendly manner.

It was a good match, "depending on the game idea of ​​both opponents and the available material".

The fans also see the narrow 1-0 defeat as a success.

Because Atlético defended worse than its reputation this season.

The team has conceded 38 goals in the league this season, which is average.

Ten teams have conceded fewer goals in Spain.

The result is fourth place in the table, which still entitles them to participate in the Champions League.

But the lead to fifth place is only one point.

Nevertheless, the fans stick to "El Cholo".

Since he took over the team in 2011, Atlético have always qualified for the Champions League, won the championship twice and failed only twice in the Champions League final, says Emilio Abejón from the Atlético Club de Socios fan club.

Before Simeone's time, people were already happy when they reached the UEFA Cup places.

The fans are also understanding when their club tends to play counterattacks in their own stadium.

City definitely expect a hot dance in Madrid, says Abejón.

But: “We will not do any crazy things on the field.

We give City the ball and calmly wait for our chance.”

And Simeone will probably spend a lot of time with his back to the lawn again this time, looking at the stands and rowing his arms.