Atletico’s changing style

Atletico Madrid remain as tough as ever, but Guillem Balague looks at how Diego Simeone is adapting the way they play.

Atletico Madrid’s recent 1-0 win over Bayern Munich was yet another reminder that Diego Simeone’s side remain formidable opponents against the very best. Same old Atleti.

But when Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti was quoted afterwards as saying that “their style is the same” it wasn’t completely accurate. Simeone is trying to change the way they play.

A quick look at the stats shows that some of the key numbers are on the up. Atletico are having more shots and more passes. They’re showing signs of dominating games more.

It’s true that Simeone has been very reluctant to do so in the past. He said last February: “We’re a tough team, strong, intense, powerful at counter-attacking. I don’t want this to ever change. We don’t know how to play any other way. Should we change our style it would be a total disaster.”

Simeone knows the risks. But Atletico’s evolution is having to come not through choice but necessity – and this is something he is coming to realise.

Their difficult start to the season confirmed this. Atletico suffered a late equaliser at home to Alaves …

continue reading in source www.skysports.com