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Simeone against Guardiola, two sides of the same coin, the art of playing the same sport and playing something else at the same time. Two opposing thoughts on the field that have been very careful to combat dialectically in the matches of the press conferences. Continuous praise exchanged, signs of respect, despite their indisputable antagonism. Yesterday’s press conference in Manchester was a clear example, in which both coaches gave each other nice words. And also when the pairing was known on the day of the draw.
And that his first contact, with Guardiola as a technician and Simeone as an apprentice, already made it clear that they were condemned to opposite models. “I don’t like this”
, Cholo acknowledged that he said when leaving their meeting, a visit to the Catalan coach’s training camp, then at Barcelona. They have never crossed reproaches in public, or about tastes.
It is not the first time that the Champions has crossed them. In May 2016, an Atlético-Bayern brought them together in the semifinals. El Cholo on the Spanish bench, Pep on the German bench. Already in the previous one, Guardiola was full of compliments towards his opponent: «Simeone is one of the best in the world». “I like it: everything he does, he does well,” he added.
After the first leg (1-0, with an unforgettable goal from Saúl), Pep Guardiola complained about the tall grass at the Calderón, but then clarified that this did not imply an attack on the Atlético coach: «I said that we had to adapt, that the Atlético de Madrid could put the grass as they wanted, which depended on UEFA. Atlético not only wins at the Calderón, but away from home. The game was a bit slow in circulation because the field was high. Who use it for their benefit? It’s fine. If UEFA decides that this is fine, we adapt. The one who adapts wins. We didn’t lose on the grass, don’t put things in my mouth that I didn’t say.”
And despite the defeat, he defended his style against the opposite: «In football you win in many ways, but I want the ball. Tomorrow I am going to win or lose but until the last day of my career I am going to do this. I’m not going to change. Simeone will do the same. It is very difficult to get a hold of this team. They close interior corridors very well. Without going inside it is very difficult to attack against ten. It is difficult to play against Atlético. They don’t leave you spaces.”
The second leg was sealed with a 2-1 victory for Bayern, but due to the double value of away goals, Atlético qualified. Once again, Simeone emerged victorious from a siege. The Chilean Arturo Vidal described in his own way the confrontation of the styles of both coaches: «Today they played ugly football against the best football in the world«.
Atlético and City have never met in the men’s category. Only in female. But their coaches have been measured before. On three occasions. There was only one Barça-Atlético with them on the bench (2-1 for the azulgrana). The other two games were those of the tie against Bayern that crowned Simeone. Manchester illuminates the fourth assault of two antagonistic coaches, but who admire each other.
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