Atlético took out of the closet their old Cholo Simeone tailored suit, a defensive and result-oriented suit, far from the brilliance and elegance of the one he wears in this League, to once again fulfill the sporting and, above all, economic objective set out by the club . Each season is born with the double challenge that the rojiblancos finish the League in the top four and pass at least the group stage in the Champions League. Again, Simeone does not fail and shows why he is the highest paid coach in the world. He earns around 3.6 million gross per month, with extras close to 50 million gross per season, and even so it is very profitable for Atlético, which last year, for example, fell in the quarterfinals against Leipzig and obtained income that were around 100 million only in the maximum continental competition.
«For some it may be normal, but for me it is not, for me it is very important. The first objective is accomplished and we have to enjoy it, “claimed the Argentine coach after qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the seventh time in eight participations. That is the irrefutable fact, although he did not say anything that he also classified with his second worst record of points, as second for the third year in a row, without scoring a goal against Lokomotiv Moscow and after suffering much more than what 0 indicates -2 to Salzburg on the final matchday.
Being second, Atlético is headed for a tricky draw next Monday. It avoids Bayern Munich, the leader in its group, and Real Madrid, but there are six possible opponents that just by citing them scare them: Liverpool, Juventus, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Chelsea. There are recent precedents with everyone except Paris Saint Germain by Neymar and Mbappé and Manchester City by Pep Guardiola and a former Rodrigo Hernández.
The closest match was against Liverpool led by Jürgen Klopp, who he miraculously eliminated last year in the second round. Oblak suffered more shots than ever in the Champions League to sustain the Metropolitano’s 1-0 score and in overtime the forward Marcos Llorente was discovered with two decisive goals. However, the latest precedents against Juventus, with Cristiano’s triplet in the return leg from Turin, Dortmund and Chelsea were very negative for Atlético.
“I think it’s wonderful that the round of 16 are that kind of game. We want big games, with important rivals and if they don’t touch you now, they will touch you later. This is the Champions League », remarked Mario Hermoso, author of the goal that changed the game in Salzburg. «Few teams or almost no team wants to play against us. We are a strong team, a large squad, we have great replacements … I can assure you that whatever rival it is, the team will go out to compete and win. We will be a difficult rival, “argued the defender in view of what awaits Atlético in Monday’s draw.
Before, the Valdebebas derby that this Saturday could almost sentence the League. Atlético arrives as unbeaten leaders, with six points ahead of Real Madrid and with one game less, but Zinedine Zidane’s team has been reborn after winning the last two finals against Sevilla and M’Gladbach and grows when it is more against the ropes.
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