This material is my indignation about the reluctance of Atletico to grow. I want to see the team strong, but in the middle of the club it does not want it, no one.
She loses top matches Let’s just take the last season – one that is called very successful for the team. Here, “Atletico” was in the race for the title of LL, went to the playoffs of the Championship, played in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup in the semifinals. That is, it is absolutely not a failure. But performances in large matches are extremely unsuccessful. The simplest: Athletico won only 2 matches in Barcelona and Real. It is not bad. It would be if he did not spend 9 meetings against these teams. It’s worse, yes? And let’s also mention that the only victory over the Catalans was not for the game: “Atletico” won 2: 1 for a defective defeat for XG (0.71 against 3.37). Simply made 6 sews, and Lewandowski did not realize the moment at 0.6 expected ball. And the only triumph against Real Madrid-on the day that the team flew from the Champions League (1-0, the defeat in the penalty series with the 11-meter Alvarez). That is, both – lubricated. There was no case in the season to play Atletico better than Barsa or Real Madrid – and really won. And it was 9 attempts. Not enough.
You will say that the top feast is not just against Spanish grands. And you will be right. Let’s look at the results in the Champions League. Let’s throw away duels with Sparta, Slovan and Salzburg (you will not say that it is top teams?) Leipzig (2: 1), which perhaps his worst season for a year. But there are lesions of “Lil” (1: 3) and “Benfitsa” (0: 4), both are quite for the game. I agree that the match with Bayer (2: 1) is cool. After him, I even believed that the old-good “Atletico” returned … But we never saw more of these Madrids. Once a year and the stick shoots, yes? And the final nail into the lid of this coffin is a shameful defeat of PSG on the club World Cup (0: 4). How many top matches can the team be brought into the asset per season? 2-3? And there were little less than a couple of tens. What is the top club that doesn’t play cool against the best?
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Diego Simeone Any club says goodbye to its coach if you feel that he cannot offer anything to add the team. Even Leicester released Rangere the next year after winning the title, because he had no ideas for how to make better. Does Simeone’s ideas have? Yes. Do they work? No. The first championship from Simeone “Atletico” won in 2014. Then the team played the second number and as vertically as possible, focused on the defense – finished the championship with the difference of heads 77:26. The second title is in 2021. Plus-minus the same playback, plus minus is the same difference of heads-67:25. So, last season Atletico missed in League 43, it had 38.56 XGA, but added in the attack – 68+ scored 3 seasons in a row. In the three previous draws without the title there were 55, 51 and 65. During the last season, Atletico owned a ball 52.2%of the time in the championship, a year ago – 50.8%, even a season earlier – 50.4%. That is, the Madrid is in defense for the best playing on the ball and with the ball. They change. But it does not help.
Now the honest plan of Athletico for the winning season in La League would look like “Simeone will change so much that the team will play in the top football.” The belief in the coach is good, even cool when the specialist grows and develops with the team. But if you want your top character to do something that is not important to him, then may you need another top character? Suppose you have Acholotti and you want to play structured football. Then, maybe, he is his Anchelotti? He is cool, but there is the same Alonso whose game game is exactly the one you would like to see. And you change Ancelotti to Alonso. Or you have a pragmatic tuhal and a football game with dominance on the field. Then why do you? You can take the company that will give you exactly what you want. Athletico wants to play modernly? Perfectly. Then the appropriate coach is required. Simeone progresses but slowly. You can take someone else to win. But Atletico does not take. Because he is to wait for Diego to become a better version of himself.
It has the same results from season to season You say, “This is a sign of stability.” And I will answer: it would be the case if there was a higher competition in Spain. Atletico composition is twice cheaper than Real Madrid and Barcelona, but one and a half times more expensive than anyone else in the championship. That is, the team objectively has reasons to finish the third one time, because it is right in this abyss between the Grand and everyone else. So, the only way to evaluate it is the result at the finish line. How close to the best? Are there more points than a year ago? This kind of question should be. So, the 2023/24 draw is a failing for Atletico. There, the team was lagging behind even the “Girona” and did not fight for the title at all. The attack was sad, one threatening. The 24/25 draw is successful for the team. The fight for the title, the easy conquest of the third line, the disclosure of Serlot and Alvarez. Here we compare the unsuccessful and successful seasons – and it turns out that both Madrids scored exactly 76 points, scored 70 and 68 heads, respectively.
Do you understand? The successful and unsuccessful seasons on the finish line are identical. Athletic is not in the abyss – in the temporal loop. Where every year is the same, and you can only influence the details. This year you win the match more – probably good. You will kill 5 goals less – probably bad. Or vice versa. Who knows him honestly. Atletico has the smallest amplitude between seasons that can be considered good and one that can be called bad. Because they are the plus minus are the same. The heroes of the films a la “Babak’s Day” try to escape from this loop, because beyond its borders have their lives. And it just gets bored, in fact. I want to see the days different, to experience different events, to communicate with different people, etc. All the characters of this kind of cinema. But not Atletico. He seems to spend the same seasons, and at the end evaluate them differently. If the team wanted to be different, he would act. However, there are really no great actions. Simeone is still in KL bi. The composition is updated slowly. There will be 76 points in the year.
It does not have a balance in the composition 
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Alexandar Seurlot and Hulian Alvarez The best in the LL season is Seranlot and Alvarez. Successful transfers into the attack line. But unnecessary. In the season without this couple, Atletico scored 2 goals more. I agree that having a nine club and Alvarez level player is a privilege, but he did not give a decisive advantage. For one simple reason: because they do not bake a balance at all. The siege is on duty the middle season with the bad, and in the defense play Langle, aspilikuet, Witcesel – veterans and “whipped pilots”. There is still no top in the center of the field. Who in general now makes a difference in the team? Seranlot, Alvarez, Grizmann, Lorrente. And all, apparently. In addition to the latter, all are the attacks of attack. And Lorrente also plays an important role in the ball. And the defense? And the problem with this line is not the first year. But everyone is ignored because the main goal is to make the team stronger, not to start winning. Does Alvarez’s alvar transfer more stronger? Yes. But for the victory it was necessary to sign the defender.
Athletic – Family Team Everyone loves everyone: the coach – players, players – coach, and the chemistry between the mentor and fans is obvious. It’s good, many dream about it. For example, Athletic with Bilbao. Or “Vilmarreal”. Or, for example, Betis. Each year to finish in the airborne area for each of these teams – for happiness, to score exactly 76 points in the championship – a reason for the holiday, the lack of scandals inside – the winning of the jackpot. Because they are strong groups without ambitions to become the best. And so it should be, because it is difficult to mark on the top, when you do not have money and opportunities to conquer this top. But Atletico has both money and opportunity. Real is rebuilt, and Barcelona cannot pay much for transfers – this is a chance for Madrid. But they do not use them. Don’t even try. Therefore, in the top matches “Atletico” does not win. Because everyone approaches to win-but without ambitions to become a top club.
The top team cannot be considered to be the one whose coach is looking for himself and his new style. The one that does not make transfer to problematic positions. The one that conducts 2 the results at the finish season-and perceives them differently, considers a year without progress. Atletico is glad to be where he is, and just tries not to fall. He has been holding a level for many years in a row, but because of this he refuses to go for more. Atletico has a family atmosphere, so players have a good time here – but they lose ambitions. A kind of pleasant corner, a club for interests in Madrid. Apparently, such a team should be in football, in the Championship, even in every championship. However, it is unfortunate to see someone drains their potential into the pipe. Athletico may be more. The rivals in the championship give the chances of risk (there is no 4th force in Spain), so Madrid could change the trainer to a more modern one. And the defenders could be purchased. And Sinka to sell. But this is not family, but about courage.
Atletico is afraid. And if you are afraid, what of the top club of you?
Source: Sport.ua