When an Atlético de Madrid fan says that his thing is different and that you should not try to understand it, he does so from the sentimental superiority that comes from being part of a hobby that is all about commitment. The one that took his team to the Champions League quarter-finals against Inter with a victory that will be worth 70 million euros when it is certified that Simeone’s men are a Club World Cup team. This will mean, at least, 50 million for participating, to which must be added the sum for continuing in Europe. A figure that oxygenates the entity’s cash flow.
When the rojiblancos left the Vicente Calderón for the Metropolitano in 2017, some rival thought that the magic of the old stadium remained on the Melancólicos walk. But nostalgia, with all its evocative power, was carried away. This is how they were able to make their new house on Luis Aragonés Avenue an impregnable temple. Only the defeat in the Copa del Rey against Athletic and the draw in the League against Getafe prevent the balance from being perfect.
The well, the best thing that can happen to Atlético
“Atlético is an exciting team. They have an incredible fan base. They have been at the club for twelve years and I still get those feelings of a kid who has just landed here. They have no idea what it’s like to be down there,” he defended. Diego Pablo Simeone after becoming the first coach in history to reach 50 victories with a Spanish club in the European Cup.
“They have known me for a long time. The Cádiz game ended and it seemed that we had no chance against Inter. And I said: ‘Ugh, it’s the best thing that can happen to us.’ That’s when the team reacts. Coincidence or not, Atlético has achieved it again when no one believed in it. Or rather, a lot of people, but none of those who were in the field. Passed. They gave themselves and played a great game,” praised the Argentine.
It is not easy to be the ‘Cholo’ despite the custom. His salary is a fact that is always discussed in defeats, but that does not come up when he gets his way in the emotional deception of this tie. Sometimes it is not very credible, because Atlético has already established itself in the first row. However, this return to the depths of the well is essential to understand feats like the one signed against an Inter that amazed Europe with its numbers.
Record attendance and ‘vendetta’ with Inter fans
It happened like at Anfield against Liverpool or at the Allianz against Guardiola’s Bayern, whom he also had on the ropes already at Manchester City. Simone Inzaghi’s team felt like Messi, Suárez and Neymar’s Barça or Mourinho’s Chelsea. Subjected to the spell of Atlético and everything that surrounds it. A social construction capable of standing up in the face of two lost finals against Real Madrid and that takes advantage of each victory to elevate it to the category of an indelible memory.
The Metropolitano could only be reached through the red flare and the celebration filled the stands with cell phone flashes. It was the ‘vendetta’ of the locals against the 4,000 displaced ‘interists’ who believed the statistics. The ‘nerazzurri’ were slaves to ‘big data’ and thought that Dimarco’s 0-1 would be more than enough for a team that, starting in the 75th minute, had not conceded a single goal all season.
But Atlético, in front of 69,196 souls that set a new attendance record at the Metropolitano, did everything right. He did not go out to speculate. He knew how to recover from Inter’s blow. He waited for Griezmann to find inspiration after the inactivity of the injury. He forgot about the Cup precedent. He tolerated Simone Inzaghi’s intention to sedate the match. He found the revolution on the bench with Memphis and knew how to take extra time for what it is, an extra time towards pain or glory.
In the penalty shootout the divinity that epics require appeared. An ‘ex machina’ Oblak who, with two memorable stops, ended up leading Lautaro to error. The complexes of the past rounds were banished. This change of page will be essential in a quarterfinal that has not occurred for years. With champions and finalists in all combinations (Real MadridPSG, City, Arsenal, Bayern, Atlético, Barça and Dortmund).
Atlético secures its place for the Club World Cup
To the glory of the comeback, Atlético will add an interesting sum of money. With the victory against Inter he practically secures a place in the Club World Cup that will be played between June and July 2025. A tournament of 32 teams for which UEFA has 12 places, with four of them designated for the Champions League winners from 2021 to 2024 and another eight for non-champion teams with a better ranking.
One of the places that remains to be assigned is for the eighth best of the last four years. Currently, this position is held by Atlético, who won three points against Inter to add 65 in the table. They are followed by Barcelona, with 59 points, who are regretting their setbacks against Shakhtar and Antwerp in the group stage. Each win awards two points; each tie one; and pass the round, another. Therefore, Atlético is practically assured of its presence in the ‘Super World Cup’.
Even losing their two quarter-final matches and Xavi’s winning their matches, the Blaugrana would still have to score a point in the semi-finals. In case of a tie, sThe one who had gone furthest in the Champions League would qualify.. Another way to enter is by winning the tournament, an aspiration for which the red and whites are not favorites. Exactly what makes them candidates to surprise and turn ‘big data’ into esotericism.
2024-03-14 12:20:47
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