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How Diego Simeone Beat Bayern and Can Win Atletico Madrid the Champions League
- Updated: May 4, 2016
They wouldn’t have it any other way, would they? Atletico Madrid reached the UEFA Champions League final on Tuesday night in painful, emotional, close-to-desperate fashion, as they beat Bayern Munich on away goals to set up a meeting with Manchester City or Real Madrid.
Drawing 2-2 on aggregate, the victory could have been simpler for Atletico had Fernando Torres netted his second-half penalty.
It could have been more straight-forward had Atleti defended in more organised fashion, had Jan Oblak not had to save a penalty from Thomas Muller or had they made use of their counter-attacks in the late stages of the game—but this way was most Atletico-like of all.
This way was “Cholismo,” the way of their manager, with Diego Simeone’s madness and genius on the touchline the overriding reason Los Rojiblancos have managed to come so far.
Man Manager
It’s stated at times that players “aren’t playing for the manager,” usually when bad results are followed by rumours of a sacking. That has never been heard with regard to Simeone, certainly not at Atletico Madrid, and it’s improbable it ever will be.
The Argentinian has his players running through walls for him and for the shirt, working tremendously hard as a group, but only in order to reap huge rewards. He drills his team in training relentlessly and jettisons those who fail to adapt or refuse to put in the required effort.
In return, though, for those he keeps around, he can promise improbable tilts at titles, the fervent support of a passionate crowd and, perhaps most importantly, his own absolute belief and trust.
When a player is in the team under Simeone, he’s in the team to stay until form or fitness determine otherwise. Rotation is important for all big sides, and sweeping changes are made to the Atleti team when required, but by and large he’ll have a core of players he trusts implicitly.
Against Bayern that was on display in full effect—the starting XI was …
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