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The core remains strong
New players are like new seasonings that you’ve picked up at the supermarket because your old ones are exhausted. So while it is natural that attention seemingly goes to the new recruits, much of what Atletico will achieve this term depends on their core, one that they have kept reasonably intact, with Costa and Filipe Luis the only departures so far.
For two seasons running now, Atletico have had the best defensive record, fuelled primarily by how well organized they are and possibly having the best back four amongst all teams. Luis has left, but the strong resolute trio of Diego Godin, Joao Miranda and Juanfran are very much intact and provided another excellent defensive display against European champions Real, managing to keep their offensive weapons quiet. And that defence has been the bedrock of Atletico’s means to success upon which they have built on these past few years; so as long as that end is as fit and firing as ever, they should continue to do well.
The other combative members of the core – midfielders Koke, Raul Garcia and Gabi – were all in attendance too and in their customary workmanlike approach augmented the efforts of their defence really well. Garcia is just a phenomenal bloke for he is such a favourite of Simeone, someone who works his socks off for the team when not in possession and can play as the supporting striker when they need some impetus up front.
It was his goal that drew parity as he did what he does best, be in the right place to put away a Koke corner after the Real defence failed to clear it leaving him with just a clueless and hapless Iker Casillas to beat. He’s been in good form, having scored in the friendlies against Wolfsburg and Cadiz as well, and the goal at the Bernabeu was his fourth in three games in the space of 10 days.
Koke continues to impress. His delivery from set pieces is very, very underrated and is a vital ingredient of how the team is set up as they look to take advantage of set pieces to get into scoring positions. The 22-year-old was the subject of widespread speculation even before last season could finish, with many claiming that he would be off along with the likes of Costa to a ‘bigger club’. But as he announced over the summer, Atletico is where his heart is, and he would like nothing more than to help this team get better and win more trophies.
An Atletico product through and through, Gabi leading by example is like the master conductor who brings it all together on the pitch, and he led his team as always with a verve and gusto that far outstripped that of his counterpart, Iker Casillas. Importantly Atletico’s midfield managed to keep tabs on Real’s engine room of Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos.
A season of much promise for many reasons
The second leg of the Spanish Super Copa is tomorrow night at the Calderon. A year ago, Atletico lost the Cup to Barcelona despite not being beaten in either leg, thanks to away goals. They wouldn’t mind winning the same way this year.
As far as performances and integrating new units into the system go, Atletico seem prepared, you wouldn’t have expected any less from a side marshalled by a hard taskmaster like Simeone. There’s obviously no way that they are at 100%, but they’ve got the elements that served them well in the past up and running and chugging along nicely. They’ve done well in pre-season and came into the Super Copa clash unbeaten, always a healthy sign.
It may be surprising, and is possibly a fact that has been understated and looked over, but Atletico have spent €99 million on players this summer (yes, that is indeed true)! They have not come even close to that figure in previous seasons with last season’s figure being roughly 30% of that at €29 million!
It goes to show that Atletico are interested in maintaining their position at the top of the Spanish game and are not in it to be a short fuse. They have bought well in terms of players who would fit their style of play with no doubt an eye on how well endowed they are in certain hormonal capacities (refer Simeone’s famous statement at the end of last season).
They’ve been rebuking critics for some time now; last year it was argued that Champions League football would be a distraction and would hence strain a thin side thereby affecting league performances. But they won the league and made the finals of the Champions League, coming within a minute of doing the double.
It was argued even before last season came to a close that Atletico would suffer this term with the potential exits of their top men. While the losses have been sizeable, they haven’t been paralyzing. And from what we saw in the first game, the side bears a settled look about it.
More than anything else, this season promises to be a season of excitement. For we will get to see if Atletico can get back to that high level after a winning season, maintaining that level of intensity and effort. And also as an interesting sub-plot, we will get to see how Simeone goes as a manager and how his journey unfurls from here on in as one of the top managers in the game.
Until now, Atletico were the hunters, and Simeone found it very easy to train his pack and get them motivated for the challenge. Now, they are the hunted, and how they respond to this challenge should make for compelling viewing.
There’s a line on the front of their jerseys that says “Land of Fire”; that of course is the tagline for their chief shirt sponsors, the country of Azerbaijan, but it is something that also so aptly defines what this club has come to represent under Simeone’s stewardship. There is still much fire and bite left in this dog and that’s why its bark should still be heard come the end of season.
