For many, Diego Simeone is the greatest legend of Atlético de Madrid, having surpassed monuments like Luis Aragonés, Adelardo, Fernando Torres or even Antoine Griezmann, who can also sit at this table. It must be said that the man who had already worn the club’s tunic in his playing career quite simply put the club back on its feet when he arrived on the Vicente Calderon bench in 2011. Under his orders, the Colchoneros went from a club that was surviving in the first part of the table without much ambition, with big financial and institutional problems, to becoming a feared club, first in Spain, then in Europe, winning 2 Leagues against Real Madrid and FC Barcelona notably, also playing in 2 Champions League finals. Everyone is unanimous on one point across the Pyrenees: if Atlético is here today and can afford to play in the semi-finals of the most prestigious European competition, it is in large part thanks to the Cholo.
However, in recent years, many observers are starting to think that the Argentinian’s cycle at the head of Atlético de Madrid is over. A current of thoughts which is also starting, little by little, to settle in among certain Rojiblancos fans. And for good reason, the criticisms against Simeone are numerous: a weak-arm approach in big matches, a tactical renewal that is struggling to come and a certain form of complacency in defeat. All this, knowing that he is the highest paid coach on the planet. What is it really? To go in Simeone’s direction, limiting Atlético to a team that puts the bus down would be unfair, since this season again, even against big names like Barça, the Colchoneros offered us big matches and often had the upper hand over their rival in the game. Just like Diego Simeone is adept at tactical modifications, often alternating his historic 4-4-2 with a 3-5-2 or even a 3-4-3. But it is true that in Europe, in everyone’s eyes, Atlético is sometimes too wait-and-see, too reactionary, and not enterprising enough. If it is therefore true that Atlético has sometimes tended to get diluted in decisive matches for years now, qualifying this Atlético as a team that is limited to stopping the bus is not entirely accurate.
Can we really blame Simeone for not winning titles?
If many like to point out the expenses of Atlético de Madrid, claiming that the club is investing enormously to attack Diego Simeone, we must also qualify this. Can Atlético really compete with the European big names? Madrilenians certainly spend a lot, but it’s also because they sell a lot. According to the figures of Transfermarktthe Rojiblancos have a negative balance of 84.4 million euros in the transfer window of the current season, with 229.9 spent against 145.5 million euros received. Arsenal for its part displays a negative balance of 280.72, a net expenditure of almost 200 million more than their yesterday’s rival. Not to mention the salaries which generally remain far from the European leaders. As an example, and based on the figures from the site Capologythe gross payroll of the Colchoneros is 192.45 million euros, compared to 269.46 million euros for the Gunners. Atlético only have 6 players above 10 million euros gross, compared to 13 for Arsenal, with many coming considerably closer to 20 million euros gross.
And for those who are going to talk about La Liga, the differences are even greater with the two Spanish big names, Barça and Real Madrid (434 million euros in payroll, more than double), which the Colchoneros still manage to annoy quite often. We can indeed criticize Diego Simeone for certain choices, but wouldn’t demanding titles from Atlético in this context be a little harsh? We can even go further on another point, however: Atlético loses the Liga against small clubs, and not in big matches. Criticism against Simeone should rather come following numerous lost points in very affordable championship matches, more than after defeats against other big European clubs.
New blood needed?
Beyond the market values and the figures, the Atlético de Madrid squad this season was good on paper, but in reality, it was anything but brilliant. Some good sensations, like Pubill, who emerged as central defender, as well as Pablo Barrios in the middle. The stand-up of certain players like Koke and Antoine Griezmann was also a satisfaction, but it is clear that certain players did not respond throughout the season: starting with Julian Alvarez, the flagship recruit Alex Baena or Robin Le Normand, supposed to be the captain behind. We must also understand that the figure of Diego Simeone goes beyond that of the simple coach. The Argentinian serves as a lightning rod and a shield, receiving a lot of criticism and allowing others – players and especially managers – to slip through the cracks a little. El Cholo is therefore a valuable asset for his management, and even if he has sometimes attacked his superiors, he has mainly contributed to hiding numerous management problems for years.
By appointing another coach, Atlético does not know what it would gain… but by parting ways with Diego Simeone, Atlético clearly knows what it would lose. Of course, the argument about wanting new blood and new ideas at the Metropolitano is completely valid and it is entirely possible that a new coach could even obtain, quickly, better results than Simeone. The wear and tear is inevitably felt a little, and the need to have a coach with a perhaps more modern or innovative approach could actually revive an Atlético which has been stagnating in recent years. Regardless, Diego Simeone is under contract until 2027 and given his status and legitimacy, it is he who will decide whether he wants to leave or not.
