Simeone’s traditional values generating the buzz around Atletico
WHEN listening to the language used to describe the modern game I often think it’s all a bit Fake Tales of San Francisco by the Arctic Monkeys. ‘You’re not from New York City, you’re from Rotherham. So get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook.’
Watching Real Madrid and Barcelona it is all still about possession, playing out from the back, playing between the lines and of course the high press. I have a whole load of these buzz words I refuse to adhere to when cocommentating! Do not even get me started on the low block and intensity. That’s dropping deep and working hard by the way.
You’d like to think Diego Simeone is of a similar mind. His Atletico team go into tomorrow’s Madrid derby top of the table, six points clear of Real and having played a game less. Unbeaten since February 1 when these two teams last met at the Bernabeu, 26 La Liga games ago, Atletico have only conceded twice and have out scored both Barca and Real. They are showing consistency that those two are not getting anywhere near replicating.
Barcelona already trail Atletico by a whopping 12 points with both playing ten games. Atletico have beaten Barca and if they take care of Real tomorrow it will be hard to imagine them throwing it away this season, even at this early stage.
In my opinion, Real and Barca on their day are a better watch and more stylish than Atletico, but with the two of them losing seven games between them already, therein lies their problem and the difference.
When describing Atletico the modern phrasebook goes out the window. Simeone’s men are all about substance and fundamentals and those traditional values are serving them well, week in and week out. I am full of admiration.
Jan Oblak is not asked to be a sweeper, he is asked to be what he is, a fantastic goalkeeper and to keep the ball from going into the back of his net. There will be no short goal-kicks from Atletico which remain in their own box tomorrow, I promise you.
The defenders, and there are three centre-backs this season in a new 3-42-1 formation, just want to defend with their lives. They put their foot through the ball to just clear it when needed. It’s all about the clean sheet.
There are no holding midfielders or offensive midfielders; Koke and Saul are required to be both which is old fashioned but so is Simeone. And can you imagine how hard the wing-backs Kieran Trippier and Yannick Carrasco have to work with him as manager?
They now carry a threat in attack with Luis Suarez supported by the remarkable holding midfielder turned very effective striker Marcos Llorente, along with the super talented Joao Felix and the defence starts with those three. Suarez does his fair share.
In short, Atletico are currently the most complete team in La Liga. A team in which every player knows his job, who play exciting football in the right areas of the pitch, whilst willing to defend their penalty box like lions.
It is a throwback from Simeone and classic Atletico. They are once again a force to be reckoned with.
‘They play exciting football in the right areas whilst willing to defend like lions’