The Atletico Madrid is immersed in the greatest institutional crisis of the era Simeone. For the first time in twelve years, the team will not be playing in any European competition come February. It is an unknown scenario, in sports and in economics. Sheltered in the rich benefits of the Champions League for a decade, this year the club will add more than 20 million euros of losses compared to last season’s exercise, when they reached the quarterfinals (what the club had budgeted in its accounts was to reach the round of 16). The Europa League could have wiped out those figures (winning it means about 15 million). But it won’t happen anymore.
The club is publicly silent, although internally everyone agrees that this situation has been totally unexpected and that it is a setback. The message is also unanimous in terms of having peace of mind and holding out until the end of the season to make decisions.
Could these decisions also affect the continuity of Cholo Simeone? Within the SAD, not everyone shows dogmatic support for Cholo’s designs. But yes the one who commands. Gil Marin He continues to trust the figure of Diego Pablo Simeone and his intention is to renew him until 2026 (his contract expires in 2024). But it won’t be now. Don’t enter this morass. In any case, for the first time the continuity of the technician is not taken for granted.
animation strike
Meanwhile, the most radical sector of the fans, the Athletic Front, who a week ago sang “proud of our players” after falling out of the Champions League against Leverkusen, has issued a statement under the slogan “You don’t deserve us” in which they announce measures for the next game, on Sunday against Espanyol.
They affirm that they will not enter the Metropolitan in the first 45 minutes as a protest, and that in the second part they will take their place in the South Fund, but “sitting like them (the players) in this group stage”, without animation , without flags and without songs. The Front also “encourages” the rest of the fans “to support” its initiative.
Atlético has two league games left and the first round of Cup against Almazán before the World Cup. Afterwards, a break of more than a month and a half without any official match to talk about. And a window of signings or transfers that opens and in which it is assumed that the club, aware of the losses, will try to make money. Although his version is that they are not obliged.
