Atlético’s elimination was painful. First, because being left out in the run-up to the Champions League semi-finals is always a slap in the face. Afterwards, because in the first round the red and whites exercised their superiority. And even in the second leg, against a roaring Borussia, Correa and Morata had two clear opportunities that would allow another story to be told today. But The team with the most goals of the ‘Simeone era’ and the one that has been most devalued in Europe could not resist.
The ‘mattress’ elimination is the fruit of a process of constant devaluation with which Simeone balances. A function that he consciously performs. He is the parapet of the board, which consoled itself with the classification for next year’s ‘SuperMundial’ of Clubs that will bring it, at least, 50 million euros.
The squad with the worst value in the Champions League quarterfinals
Of all the teams that competed in the Champions League quarterfinals, the worst valued is Atlético’s, with 417.80 million, according to Transfermarkt, the benchmark evaluator in current football. Above it was Dortmund, with 463.70 million. The next on the list is FC Barcelona, with 839.50. The difference between the Madrid team is little, but while Borussia’s policy is to generate profits through young talents, Atlético is an aging team that is devalued year by year.
In the 2018/2019 season, the Borusser club faced Atlético in the group stage. That year, the team owned by Miguel Ángel Gil Marín reached the highest valuation in its history: 934.8 million euros. Since then it has continued to lose value, season by season.. The justification of the pandemic qualified the accounts, but does not hide the poor planning that currently commands Andrea Berta.
According to Transfermarkt data, the Atlético It is the club that has devalued the most in the last five years. Since 2019, the red and white price has fallen by 55% with the departure of men like Rodri, Lucas Hernandez o Thomas Partey who have not been replaced -except for the return of Griezmann- by signings of the same level or performance. The clearest sign of impoverishment is in the latest markets.
In Atlético there is no trace of ‘cholismo’
The case of defense is the most notable, because it is where Atlético has bled dry this season. There is no trace of the ‘cholismo’ that led the team to two Champions League finals. In 47 gamesThe team of Simeone He has conceded 61 goals. It is the worst season of the ‘Simeone era’ and it is not over yet. The 57 goals of the 2021/22 season were surpassed by Dortmund’s four goals.
In summer it arrived Javi Galan from Celta in exchange for five million. In winter the left back went on loan to Real Sociedad. In that same window, Atlético incorporated Çağlar Söyüncü. The Turkish center back, like Galán, went on loan to Fenerbahçe. The other man in the defense who joined Atlético in winter, Santiago Mourino (2.7 million), he didn’t even wear the red and white. From Uruguay to work at Real Zaragoza, where at least he is taking advantage of the opportunity.
In the winter market, Atlético made a move after the departure of a Söyüncü who barely made a couple of calamitous appearances. He incorporated Gabriel Paulista, central defender of Valencia. A priori, an acceptable move within the ‘low cost’ policy that drives the red and white secretariat. Free, with experience in First Division and who could contribute from the first moment. Also negative result. Simeone took a gamble in Dortmund with Witsel, Hermoso and Giménez as central core. When the Belgian, a converted midfielder, does not perform, the team falls apart.
When individualities fail there is no team
The club’s management has chosen to stretch the age of players to the maximum for whom the pace of a match like the one in Dortmund goes over them. This is the case of Koke, although his role was fundamental against Inter. Talent compensates for specific scenarios. But it is difficult to compete at the highest level with fragile figures like Gimenez and others that are withdrawing, such as Savic.
The offensive structural weaknesses are also there. The start of the season Morata He was spectacular, but since January he has scored only one goal. He was singled out by Simeone when he was substituted at half-time in the match against Dortmund. after failing a one-on-one with Kobel. The same thing happened to Nahuel Molina, who is at a devastating level. His natural replacement, César Azpilicueta, also left at halftime due to a yellow card.
The Navarrese is another of those who has had to take on multiple jobs at 34 years old, as has happened with Witsel (35). Two veterans who work in different registers in the absence of effective replacements. Atlético depends to the maximum on individualities such as cloud y Griezmann, less decisive than usual. The Slovenian goalkeeper, hero in qualifying against Inter in the round of 16, could not withstand the 19 shots that fell on him. He stopped some more difficult ones than those that ended in a goal, but with a defense mired in fragility he was unable to do the heroic thing.
Simeone is not enough to maintain the project
The situation of the red and white team has no signs of reversing in the short term. Atlético needs urgent regeneration and is not in a position to undertake it. Simeone’s renewal in November until 2027 was the only big impact news from a club whose biggest bet in recent years, Joao Félix has been a true sporting and financial fiasco (127 million).
‘Cholo’ has managed to take the team to the Champions League eleven consecutive times, but each time he has worse resources to maintain this glorious routine which, furthermore, has been completely wasted to continue growing. There is no mature or future project beyond what the Argentine can do.
At Atlético, where a sale of the company has been planned for some time, the data that matters is that of the accounts, relieved by the qualification for the Club World Cup that was closed this Tuesday thanks to the elimination of FC Barcelona. Another 50 million with which to fatten a profit account that does not translate into improvements in the field.
2024-04-17 12:23:00
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