Time to put up a fight
Atletico must start landing punches or face shameful exit
MADRID: Finding themselves against the ropes, Atletico Madrid have to come out swinging and finally start landing punches to keep their Champions League dreams alive when Azerbaijani champions Qarabag visit the shiny new Wanda Metropolitano today.
The move to the 68,000 capacity stadium, which will host next season’s Champions League final, was seen as confirmation of Atletico’s place among the European elite.
Inspired by coach Diego Simeone, Atletico have twice reached the final, as well as the semis and quarters in the Champions League over the past four seasons – only to fall to cross city rivals Real Madrid on every occasion.
On top of a US$360mil (RM1.5bil) outlay on their new home, Atletico made a huge economic effort to make their transition from the Vicente Calderon as smooth as possible despite a FIFA ban on registering new players.
Simeone and key figures such as Antoine Griezmann, Saul Niguez and Koke were handed lucrative new contracts.
Diego Costa also rejoined the club from Chelsea, but he and Atletico’s other major recruit Vitolo can’t feature until January.
However, the gamble that Costa and Vitolo would provide the perfect boost to Atletico’s Champions League campaign come the new year could backfire spectacularly as Simeone’s men have taken a paltry two points from their opening three Group C games.
Costa’s old club Chelsea lead the way on seven points, closely followed by AS Roma on five.
Atletico’s problem is painstakingly obvious, they can’t score goals.
Griezmann’s penalty in 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea last month is their only Champions League goal to date and they have managed just eight in their last eight La Liga games to fall eight points off the top.
“It’s the same thing as always,” Saul confessed after a 1-1 draw against third-tier Elche in the King’ Cup.
“That lack of goals makes us anxious and we end up suffering.”
Top scorer for the past three seasons, Griezmann’s form has faltered with just three goals in 11 matches.
Atletico’s fate remains in their own hands, but they need to be a lot more clinical if Costa is to avoid the ignominy of making his European return in the new year in the Europa League as his old club progress to the Champions League last 16. — AFP