- Classification This is the League
"I see the team improved and you feel what they improved. And whoever wants to understand it, let him understand it." A few days ago Simeone listed, during the tribute to his historic record of matches with Atletico, his more than 1,000 press conferences. There are few without their messages. For a few weeks, coinciding with the awakening of the team after the World Cup, the Cholo does not stop standing out in "good atmosphere" in the locker room as a key factor. Another dart for anyone who wants to understand it to understand.
Atletico faces the start of spring launched, in its best moment of the season. After the World Cup, including the Cup matches, the balance is so devastating (11 wins, three draws and only two defeats, one of them in extra time) that it is even more painful to remember that beginning of the course that now prevents any title option. Not only was Europe squandered like never before, also the rojiblancos weighed down the fight for an already unattainable League despite the fact that in the last month only Barcelona has achieved more points.
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The Iberian arena.
Simeone: or Diego or Pablo
- Writing: CARLOS TORO
Simeone: or Diego or Pablo
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Athletic.
Simeone's emotional letter to Luis Aragonés: "Only you can understand me"
- Writing: EL MUNDO
Simeone's emotional letter to Luis Aragonés: "Only you can understand me"
He has not lost in the championship since January 8, he has not conceded more than one goal since October 29 in Cádiz... And the third place that settles in Champions and approaches the goal of returning to the Super Cup, which until recently also seemed a utopia, is already a reality: La Real, which came to take seven points, is now three behind. The pressure influences, already overcome the duel of continental failure. Also the load of matches, only one a week where to focus physical efforts. And the step forward evident in football, with defense of five, Griezmann as a paradigm of that excellence of high pressure and electrical connections in attack after recovery. But it's not just the results.
For some time now, the only anger at Atletico has to do with the desire for more - as when on Monday Memphis Depay and Marcos Llorente were substituted in Montilivi still with a draw - or with frustration with refereeing decisions, as in the draw in the recent derby at the Bernabeu. The departures in the winter market, especially, of course, that of Joao Felix, have put an end to the permanent tension with the Portuguese, with his substitutions and his fuss. A tension that was contagious, that generated insecurity to a group that faced the battles like a defeated army before leaving.
"We are together"
The pupils of Cholo repeat the mantra in public of the coach himself: "Every time the dressing room grows, has strength and competes internally, we improve". Morata, scorer the last two games, despite the fact that the reinforcement Depay biró the place in the starting eleven: "Hopefully we continue in this line. We have a very good atmosphere. You can tell we're together." Griezmann, after hugging his coach in his goal against Sevilla: "We are very good and we have to enjoy". Oblak: "I see the team strong, after the World Cup we have improved a lot." To such an extent everything seems to have changed so much that the possible departure of Simeone at the end of the season is no longer mentioned: it is a fact that he already plans the next course, as indicated by his lustrous contract.
And in those plans it does not seem that Joao Felix enters, an issue to be resolved. The Portuguese continues to send messages since his loan in London, about how comfortable he is with the offensive game of Chelsea, about the non-chants of the stands of the Metropolitan – "they did not have for me" – and even some as ridiculous as that in Spain they did not know how to pronounce their surname correctly. Extended his contract until 2027 or someone puts more than 100 million euros or on June 30 must return to the orders of Simeone.
But before that Atletico have 13 games left, the first tonight at the Cívitas Metropolitano against Rubén Baraja's Valencia, predictably with Rodrigo de Paul back to the starting eleven. A night to extend the streak and wait for the result of Sunday's classic. And then, why not, sprint to second place. On the horizon, the visit to the Camp Nou on April 23 as the main obstacle of a friendly calendar.
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- Joao Felix
- Mark Llorente
- Ministry of Defence