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I am not going to waste my time, and yours, by providing a tactical preview to the game between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea in this article. Neither am I going to predict a final scoreline (which in all likeliness will be false), or line-ups, tactics and formations for tonight’s match. If you are looking for an article that will tell you who is going to win tonight’s game or the second leg, then this is not the article for you (in fact, no article is).
But if you do happen to be looking for an article to understand the magnitude and potential ramifications of tonight’s (and next week’s) massive UEFA Champions League semi-final clashes between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, then look no further.
For this is no ordinary Champions League semi-final between two ordinary clubs vying to be Europe’s numero uno, this is so much more. Enough ranting; here’s why tonight’s match is so much more than an ordinary Champions League semi-final.
Atletico’s game of 110 seasons
Well, first and most notably, this is arguably the biggest game Madrid’s less favoured son will have played not only in the last decade, but since the genesis of the club itself. Yes, Atletico have had their moments of glory- they have won the Copa Del Rey 10 times, the La Liga on nine occasions, the European Cup in ’62, and more recently, the Europa Cup in 2010 and 2012. This is a set of achievements that any club would and should be proud of. Yet, the Los Indios have always lived in the shadow of the Los Blancos.
Apart from a few sporadic bouts of near-dominance in the late 40′s, the late 60′s and early 70′s, Atletico have always been Madrid’s less favoured son. This is not to say that the Los Indios have performed badly; it’s just that they have forever been outshone and eclipsed by their much more flamboyant and baroque twin. As was the case with Faramir and Boromir in the Lord of The Rings, the less favoured son has been handed a golden opportunity to prove his worth, and that is exactly why this match means so much more than coming within one step of the European crown to Atleti. While they have been on the scene for a couple of years now, this has been their breakout season.
Therefore, this is just the opening they need to announce their arrival to the footballing fraternity, as well as to their bête noire from the other end of town, and announce it loud and clear, with a bang. And what’s more, victory against Chelsea could mean a potential Champions League final against the more favoured twin. How about that for a match? Yum yum.
The Genuine Genius
Two seasons ago, he was just someone Simeone. Known by most, acknowledged by some, praised by few, compared to the Special One by none. Now, he’s the toast of every coast; Diego Simeone is Jose Mourinho’s only adversary. And here’s his chance to overthrow the Chosen One, the Special One, the Happy One, and of late, the Cross and Unlucky one. This match between Atletico and Chelsea promises an array of engaging match-ups, but the pick of the lot will have to be the legendary battle between undoubtedly two of modern football’s best managers.
Victory for Jose Mourinho will immortalize the man who’s already considered by many as football’s equivalent of King Midas. However, if Simeone does emerge as the winner from the clash, it could spell the beginning of a new managerial era in football, one of crushing dominance, one in likeness to Sir Alex Ferguson’s regime at Manchester United. One thing’s for sure, neither can live while the other survives.
Thibaut time he Cechs out?
Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois – The Chelsea goalkeeping conundrum
Petr Cech has enjoyed cult hero status during his stay at Stamford Bridge. He has become a club legend, amongst the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. The club has loved their number one dearly, their number one who flirted with death but returned stronger than ever to become one of the greatest shot-stoppers of the modern game. Their number one who stood , austere, through all the managerial changes, capping 4 FA cups, 3 Premier Leagues, 2 League Cups, a Champions League, a Europa League and many other individual awards, which, if I list fully, will make this article too long.
But as much as every Blues supporter may hate to admit it, Cech’s time may have come. This season, concentration lapses have cost him goals, and his team matches. Despite that, he leads the PL’s clean sheets charts. Cech remains a world-class goalie – his stats this season reiterate that – but his blasé indifference in a few matches also suggest that the Czech is past his peak.
Thibaut Courtois, on the other hand, is not only the best young goalie in the world hands down (and hands up), but is also considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world. He has a whopping 19 clean sheets in the La Liga alone, and is past his ‘waiting in the wings’ stage. No player is bigger than the club, not even Petr Cech at six foot six inches, excluding a couple of centimetres of head gear. That is why this match will, for all means and purposes, decide the fate of both these goalkeepers.
A stellar performance from Cech coupled with an ordinary performance from the Belgian will raise doubts over Courtois’ future at Chelsea. It could mean another couple of years for Cech and an end to Courtois’ three year gameless tenure at Chelsea. However, if form is an indication of how this game will go, and Courtois does come up with an inspired performance and Cech an insipid one, then there will be no doubting the arrival of Thibaut Courtois amidst puffy eyed fans. And that is a massive, massive conflict of interests for every Chelsea fan.
Fairytale return? Nah.
On a side note, the game between Atletico and Chelsea in Vincente Calderon signifies the return of Fernando Torres to his boyhood club, the reason he is (was) as famous as he is (was). His reunion with Diego Simeone, who Fernando Torres captained during his Atletico days, will certainly be an emotional affair, and though it is not the focus of this match, it could spring surprises. If Mourinho does decide to give El Nino the nod, which is quite unlikely but possible, we could see a rejuvenated, motivated Fernando Torres leading the Chelsea brigade to victory at Madrid.
With a point to prove, we might just see a completely different number nine on display tonight. Add to that the rumours doing the rounds about Fernando Torres’ return to the Calderon and his respectable scoring record in European competitions, and you might just be in for a treat. I’m a Fernando Torres fan, so excuse my blatant lack of realism.
At the other end of things, Diego Costa, whose incredible season has seen him being tracked by a number of teams (with Chelsea leading the way), will want to impress his suitors. And that only adds to the spice of this match-up.
Overview
I hope you feel as strongly as I do about the fact that this is so much more than just a run-of-the-mill Champions League semi-final. At the beginning, I promised not to make any false predictions. Sticking by that promise, I have decided to make only one prediction about this game. A prediction that will be true.
In this mammoth match, where emotions will be running high and both teams will be playing with so much at stake, there will not be just one winner and one loser. There will be many.
And that is why this will be no ordinary Champions League semi-final.
