(ESP-ENG) Anfield y los "pechos fríos" - [Opinión]

Hello friends, positive vibes to everyone.

Fuente.

I'm aware that the term "cold-hearted" might be somewhat offensive or pejorative, but for me, there's no better way to describe Diego Simeone's team than with that label. And I'm not just saying this because of yesterday's match in England, but because of the long history of Atlético Madrid failing to show character when it really matters. A clear indication of this is their current position in La Liga, eleventh place after just one win in four matches. There's no doubt that Simeone's team isn't having the best start to the season; they're missing two key players due to injuries, José María Giménez and Julián Álvarez, and their performance on the pitch clearly isn't what the fans expect from them.

So, I have to ask myself, why does Simeone still remain as Atlético's manager? The Argentine has been in Madrid for 14 years, has won 8 titles, and led the club to two Champions League finals, but Atlético always seems destined to be the bridesmaid, always on the verge of greatness, always one step short of becoming one of Europe's top clubs. Yesterday's match was a perfect example of this. They started by going 2-0 down in less than 6 minutes, and while it's true that with more determination and spirit than with actual football skill, they managed to come back and draw against the mighty Liverpool. Everything seemed settled, the Spaniards were about to achieve a great result, until in added time, thanks to some of the magic that the English team has shown this season, Liverpool scored the 3-2 winner, taking the victory (nothing new for Atlético to lose in that manner).

Fuente.

But returning to the previous question, I can only think of one reason: the immense admiration and devotion that the club's fans have for Simeone, and rightly so, I might add. Before Simeone, this team was practically nonexistent; it was plagued by financial problems and lacked any real identity. This, as is evident, changed dramatically with his arrival. They began to become a force to be reckoned with in Spain, winning a league title in his early years, and the rest is history. I believe the club's hierarchy prefers the stability that Simeone provides, the ability to compete in the Champions League and generate revenue (just look at the Metropolitano Stadium, one of the best in the world), rather than starting from scratch with a new project that could potentially fail miserably. Ultimately, Atlético de Madrid is what it is today thanks to Diego Simeone, and everyone knows that.

All of this doesn't change the fact that, and I'll say it again, they are truly "cold-hearted." I believe the Argentine coach is a great tactician; he reads the game better than most, but that talent is being wasted at this club. I would love to see him at another team with a squad of slightly higher quality, with players of a more elite level. Returning briefly to yesterday's topic, something that caught my attention was the way Liverpool has been winning matches so far this season. I don't know if it's part of Slot's style or if it's simply a matter of the club's "aura," but it's truly fascinating.

Fuente.

In the Premier League, after four matchdays, Liverpool has won every game with late goals, all scored after the 80th minute. In total, that's five matches, including yesterday's, three of which were decided in stoppage time; quite remarkable, if you ask me. The question is whether these "curious" occurrences are meant to reinforce the narrative that Atlético de Madrid always lacks that extra something, or to further enhance Liverpool's reputation for their ability to find late winners and clinch victories. We can interpret it however we want, but ultimately, the result is always the same: a football match that generates plenty of discussion.

Nothing that happened yesterday determines the outcome; the Champions League has just begun, and we know that this tournament is unique because it doesn't always reflect what happens in the domestic leagues. But what we saw at Anfield yesterday certainly demonstrates that some realities are very difficult to ignore.

Well, that's all for today, folks. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Take care everyone, see you next time!