Atletico: Golden Era of Simeone

Atletico in "auto" mode
Before the semi-final, Simeone confidently said: "Away, Atletico can still beat Arsenal." The reality is the same. The Argentine strategist was disqualified to direct the students do not flinch. They still play as usual. Discipline, shrewdness and lack of intrigue. Atletico has "accepted" the coach but still higher than Arsenal head.

Lack of coach is not the only disadvantage of the Spanish team. Said Niguez after the semi-final: "Wanda Metropolitano far away from the magic atmosphere in the former Vicente Calderon." Koke agrees: "We are still adjusting to the new pitch." In other words, the high doses of stimulant available in Calderon have not been found in the Metropolitano.

But Atletico are still themselves. Simeone has had seven years to put his team into "automation" mode. Even without Simeone on the pitch, even without Calderon's familiar atmosphere, Atletico is still the engine that works the way Simeone demands. That is how the team has twice reached the Champions League final in the last four seasons. Being eliminated early in the Champions League this season does not mean Atletico lost the identity. Only when they fell to the Europa League all of them found Atletico too strong for the playing field.

The throne is one foot
There were many comments about the decline of the "dynasty" Simeone. But what is happening is not very similar. In La Liga, Atletico finished second with 75 points after 35 rounds. This achievement is better than last season (ranked third with 71 points). And despite being knocked out of the Champions League, Simeone's side are in for a third chance in the Europa League.

Maybe, Atletico is not as difficult as it was a few years ago. But no one will blame Simeone for the pillar Godin, Gabi, Juanfran have stepped over the other side of the career. Atletico in mind is clear. It is important that Simeone wins the inertia. He brought new spirit to Atletico after the crisis of the season. Griezmann was re-activated to return to the highest form (27 goals on all fronts), Lucas Hernandez, Partey, Saul Niguez becoming increasingly dominant. And Diego Costa's timely return added strength to the attack.

On the occasion of Atletico's 115th birthday in April, owner Miguel Angel Gil Marin said: "This is the golden age in the history of the team." And the biggest contributor was none other than Simeone, with five titles after seven years. Simeone's Atletico has experienced many ups and downs but never lost the temperament of a European power. It is regrettable that Los Rojiblancos found their way too late, as they were pushed down to the second-placed Europa League.

That does not mean that the Europa League is less prestigious. Simeone understood that the European Cup would be a spiritual pose for the road ahead, even to Griezmann's attachment to Wanda Metropolitano. French striker desire more than anyone raised the cup in the continent. Griezmann suffered pain in the Champions League final in 2015/16 and soon followed the tragedy of the EURO 2016 finals.

With strength demonstrated, Atletico is more highly appreciated France representative in the Europa League final. The throne is only one way coach teacher Simeone step foot. In the season that they started badly, Atletico was heading for a happy ending. Simply because it is Simeone's team.

32 - Arsenal's 1-0 win was the 32nd (of the 55 games this season). Atletico Madrid kept the clean sheet, the best of the five European championships.

9 & 5 - Atletico will be ninth in the European Cup final. Previously, the Madrid team had made three Champions League appearances, three times in the C2 Cup and two in the Europa League. Meanwhile, Atletico's rivals Marseille will make their fifth appearance in a European finals play. In the past, the French side of the port city twice reached the final of the European Cup and twice in the last UEFA Cup final.

El Cholo was banned for four matches
Coach Diego Simeone has been sentenced to four games in the European Cup, including a semi-final against Arsenal. El Cholo will not be able to direct Atletico in the Europa League final against Marseille on 17/5 and the first two matches in the Champions League next season. In the semi-finals, coach Simeone sticking "red card" at 12 minutes loudly with the referee, he was also fined 10,000 euros because of this incident.