This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/sep/29/diego-simeone-atletico-madrid-return-la-liga
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Diego Simeone’s return raises Calderón temperature as Atlético burn Sevilla | Diego Simeone’s return raises Calderón temperature as Atlético burn Sevilla |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The man in black was back. Dark suit, dark shirt, dark shoes. Dark hair, swept back. Dark look and dark thoughts, yet more than the hint of a glint in his eye. “War personified,” Unai Emery said. The beast, released. For the first time since the season started with him getting sent off against Real Madrid and he walked off with a clip round the fourth official’s ear, El Cholo was free. He was back in his natural habitat. He’d sat in the stands, making The Girl Behind Simeone an unexpected celebrity. He’d rattled his cage in the directors’ box, pulling at the metal bars, almost tearing them from their foundations. And he’d been enclosed in a glass boxes everywhere, a thousand cameras pointing his way. A bit like David Blain. Except that Diego Simeone was worth watching. | The man in black was back. Dark suit, dark shirt, dark shoes. Dark hair, swept back. Dark look and dark thoughts, yet more than the hint of a glint in his eye. “War personified,” Unai Emery said. The beast, released. For the first time since the season started with him getting sent off against Real Madrid and he walked off with a clip round the fourth official’s ear, El Cholo was free. He was back in his natural habitat. He’d sat in the stands, making The Girl Behind Simeone an unexpected celebrity. He’d rattled his cage in the directors’ box, pulling at the metal bars, almost tearing them from their foundations. And he’d been enclosed in a glass boxes everywhere, a thousand cameras pointing his way. A bit like David Blain. Except that Diego Simeone was worth watching. |
| And, boy, did they watch him; the Cholo Cam was always running. The league season started with him in a radio cabin at Rayo. In a Bernabéu box, he punched the air and shouted instructions that no one could hear, leaping into his son’s arms when they scored. From up the Calderón stands, he phoned and phoned and hung up when no one answered, sending Juan Vizcaíno racing down the stairs to the bench to tell them face to face instead. He turned to fans and told them to make more noise. And in Almería, he really left his mark: when Simeone departed another box, helpless hand prints on the glass remained where he had been hammering away while on the other side of the glass an old bloke in an Almería shirt hammered back. | And, boy, did they watch him; the Cholo Cam was always running. The league season started with him in a radio cabin at Rayo. In a Bernabéu box, he punched the air and shouted instructions that no one could hear, leaping into his son’s arms when they scored. From up the Calderón stands, he phoned and phoned and hung up when no one answered, sending Juan Vizcaíno racing down the stairs to the bench to tell them face to face instead. He turned to fans and told them to make more noise. And in Almería, he really left his mark: when Simeone departed another box, helpless hand prints on the glass remained where he had been hammering away while on the other side of the glass an old bloke in an Almería shirt hammered back. |
| Simeone admitted that he could see the game better up there, but in his mind football is about faith and seeing isn’t believing. Coach and choreographer, he needs to be close and up there he wasn’t. He admitted to feeling “impotent.” “It’s been an ugly experience,” he said. But on Saturday night he was back. He hadn’t made it to 44 days; instead, Atlético Madrid’s manager made his return 37 days later. And just in time too. | Simeone admitted that he could see the game better up there, but in his mind football is about faith and seeing isn’t believing. Coach and choreographer, he needs to be close and up there he wasn’t. He admitted to feeling “impotent.” “It’s been an ugly experience,” he said. But on Saturday night he was back. He hadn’t made it to 44 days; instead, Atlético Madrid’s manager made his return 37 days later. And just in time too. |
| Atlético hadn’t always been very Atlético lately. They conceded five goals in two games against Olympiakos and Celta. “That’s not normal,” Joao Miranda said. At times, the pressure and intensity momentarily dropped, the ultimate sin. Spaces opened. There had even been whistles from the Calderón when Raúl Jiménez replaced Antoine Griezmann. It became an “issue”, falsely inflated. “Simeone whistled,” some shouted gleefully. “Beyond adoration, everyone’s entitled to an opinion,” Simeone said but fans cried foul, moaning about “media manipulation”. Now they aimed to prove it, to show whose side they were on. While Simeone was up in those boxes, he’d racked up his 100th win for Atlético – quicker than any other manager, ever – and a message went round to cheer him in the 14th minute. Out on the touchline at last, he would hear them too. | Atlético hadn’t always been very Atlético lately. They conceded five goals in two games against Olympiakos and Celta. “That’s not normal,” Joao Miranda said. At times, the pressure and intensity momentarily dropped, the ultimate sin. Spaces opened. There had even been whistles from the Calderón when Raúl Jiménez replaced Antoine Griezmann. It became an “issue”, falsely inflated. “Simeone whistled,” some shouted gleefully. “Beyond adoration, everyone’s entitled to an opinion,” Simeone said but fans cried foul, moaning about “media manipulation”. Now they aimed to prove it, to show whose side they were on. While Simeone was up in those boxes, he’d racked up his 100th win for Atlético – quicker than any other manager, ever – and a message went round to cheer him in the 14th minute. Out on the touchline at last, he would hear them too. |
| It was also a big night because of Atlético’s opponents, Sevilla, a team they hate and a team enjoying their best start to a season in 30 years, a solitary point at the Calderón from their best start to the season ever. Joint top of the table. A team with whom, Simeone had insisted, Atlético were really competing. Never mind Barcelona and Madrid, Atlético’s real league is Sevilla and Valencia, he had said. And Sevilla had looked good: organised, strong, unbeaten, they had conceded just three goals. This was a test forged in fire, the Sevilla-based newspaper Estadio Deportivo insisted. | It was also a big night because of Atlético’s opponents, Sevilla, a team they hate and a team enjoying their best start to a season in 30 years, a solitary point at the Calderón from their best start to the season ever. Joint top of the table. A team with whom, Simeone had insisted, Atlético were really competing. Never mind Barcelona and Madrid, Atlético’s real league is Sevilla and Valencia, he had said. And Sevilla had looked good: organised, strong, unbeaten, they had conceded just three goals. This was a test forged in fire, the Sevilla-based newspaper Estadio Deportivo insisted. |
| They were about to burn. Simeone emerged from the tunnel pursued by a swarm of cameramen, striding between them exuding strength, his every step roared by the stadium. The place was packed and noisy. “Olé, Olé, Olé, Cholo Simeone,” they chanted. High in the Calderón, one fan turned to the journalists behind him and waved his hands about. “See? See? We’re behind Cholo! Go on, write that down, you sons of bitches,” he shouted. So they did. “Nutter,” says the notebook. Down below, Simeone leapt and shouted and waved his arms while in front of him Atlético flew into Sevilla. | They were about to burn. Simeone emerged from the tunnel pursued by a swarm of cameramen, striding between them exuding strength, his every step roared by the stadium. The place was packed and noisy. “Olé, Olé, Olé, Cholo Simeone,” they chanted. High in the Calderón, one fan turned to the journalists behind him and waved his hands about. “See? See? We’re behind Cholo! Go on, write that down, you sons of bitches,” he shouted. So they did. “Nutter,” says the notebook. Down below, Simeone leapt and shouted and waved his arms while in front of him Atlético flew into Sevilla. |
| Unai Emery admitted that Sevilla couldn’t live with Atlético’s pressure. It probably didn’t help that he had left out his most talented players – Denis Suárez Gerard Deulofeu and Ever Banega started on the bench – and sought protection in a three man defensive midfield. There was no protection; not from this Atlético. Forward they came, no respite and no relief. Gabi leapt to head; over on the touchline, Simeone was heading it with him, snapping his neck in time. As the ball was pushed over, he led the huuuuuy. He ran along in front of his bench. Arms in the air, he implored them to give more – fans and players. Another Cholo chant prompted a raised fist, pumping at the air. “The best thing about the game?” he said afterwards. “The atmosphere. It felt like there were loads of us. The communion was perfect.” | Unai Emery admitted that Sevilla couldn’t live with Atlético’s pressure. It probably didn’t help that he had left out his most talented players – Denis Suárez Gerard Deulofeu and Ever Banega started on the bench – and sought protection in a three man defensive midfield. There was no protection; not from this Atlético. Forward they came, no respite and no relief. Gabi leapt to head; over on the touchline, Simeone was heading it with him, snapping his neck in time. As the ball was pushed over, he led the huuuuuy. He ran along in front of his bench. Arms in the air, he implored them to give more – fans and players. Another Cholo chant prompted a raised fist, pumping at the air. “The best thing about the game?” he said afterwards. “The atmosphere. It felt like there were loads of us. The communion was perfect.” |
| It was now. The pack together again, the alpha male back at its head. Simeone stood at the heart of it, not just leading his footballers but leading his faithful too. “Was this victory down to your return?” he was asked. “No, I don’t think it’s that,” Simeone replied but others did. “Cholo was on the grass after being kidnapped for weeks and it felt like Atlético were playing with 12 again. His presence is vital,” said the club’s former striker Kiko, who played with Simeone. “Cholo’s back, Atléti are back,” ran the headline in AS: “Cholo’s back, the champions are back. It’s hard to pass that off as a coincidence,” insisted the match report from Iñako Díaz-Guerra. | It was now. The pack together again, the alpha male back at its head. Simeone stood at the heart of it, not just leading his footballers but leading his faithful too. “Was this victory down to your return?” he was asked. “No, I don’t think it’s that,” Simeone replied but others did. “Cholo was on the grass after being kidnapped for weeks and it felt like Atlético were playing with 12 again. His presence is vital,” said the club’s former striker Kiko, who played with Simeone. “Cholo’s back, Atléti are back,” ran the headline in AS: “Cholo’s back, the champions are back. It’s hard to pass that off as a coincidence,” insisted the match report from Iñako Díaz-Guerra. |
| Sevilla were supposed to be a threat, but they were laid painfully bare by Atlético’s best performance of the season, on the day that El Cholo returned to his natural habitat. The front page of Estadio Deportivo led on a photo of Carriço, his shorts pulled down to reveal a builder’s bum. “Arse in the air,” ran the headline. Sevilla had had their pants pulled down. It finished 4-0 and it could have been more. | Sevilla were supposed to be a threat, but they were laid painfully bare by Atlético’s best performance of the season, on the day that El Cholo returned to his natural habitat. The front page of Estadio Deportivo led on a photo of Carriço, his shorts pulled down to reveal a builder’s bum. “Arse in the air,” ran the headline. Sevilla had had their pants pulled down. It finished 4-0 and it could have been more. |
| Koke scored the first. Saúl got the second. And Raúl García got the third. It was pretty much perfect already, but it was about to get better. Raúl Jiménez went on, the Mexican striker who is a Real Madrid fan, who was yet to convince, whose introduction had drawn those whistles. Over on the touchline, Simeone put his arm on Jiménez’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear. He then ostentatiously led the applause for the departing Mario Mandzukic, playing in a protective mask .… and kept leading it, hands out, visible, defying anyone not to join in, as Jiménez ran on. Fifteen minutes later, Jiménez scored a diving header, leaping up to grab at the badge on his shirt. It was his first for the club. “I told him he’d score,” Simeone grinned, shrugging a little. “And, well, he did.” | Koke scored the first. Saúl got the second. And Raúl García got the third. It was pretty much perfect already, but it was about to get better. Raúl Jiménez went on, the Mexican striker who is a Real Madrid fan, who was yet to convince, whose introduction had drawn those whistles. Over on the touchline, Simeone put his arm on Jiménez’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear. He then ostentatiously led the applause for the departing Mario Mandzukic, playing in a protective mask .… and kept leading it, hands out, visible, defying anyone not to join in, as Jiménez ran on. Fifteen minutes later, Jiménez scored a diving header, leaping up to grab at the badge on his shirt. It was his first for the club. “I told him he’d score,” Simeone grinned, shrugging a little. “And, well, he did.” |
| Sevilla had conceded three all season and now they had conceded four in 90 minutes. If this was a game of two halves, Atlético dominated both of them: the 45 minutes when they pushed Sevilla back, suffocating them, and the 45 minutes when they had waited for Sevilla and then slipped the knife in on the break. | Sevilla had conceded three all season and now they had conceded four in 90 minutes. If this was a game of two halves, Atlético dominated both of them: the 45 minutes when they pushed Sevilla back, suffocating them, and the 45 minutes when they had waited for Sevilla and then slipped the knife in on the break. |
| Three of the four goals had come from dead balls; 10 of their last 12 in the league have now come that way. Corners should have the word ‘penalty’ in front, hockey-style. It is a stat that has been used against Atlético but Simeone says: “if you have lots of corners, it must be because you have attacked … dead balls are part of the game too.” And it is a part of the game that they have worked astonishingly well. On Saturday, the second in particular was extraordinary: Gabi clipped in a free-kick to Arda Turan who headed back for Miranda who looped it over to the far post, first-time on the volley, for Saúl to head in. Four players, four touches and the second goal, without the ball hitting the floor. | Three of the four goals had come from dead balls; 10 of their last 12 in the league have now come that way. Corners should have the word ‘penalty’ in front, hockey-style. It is a stat that has been used against Atlético but Simeone says: “if you have lots of corners, it must be because you have attacked … dead balls are part of the game too.” And it is a part of the game that they have worked astonishingly well. On Saturday, the second in particular was extraordinary: Gabi clipped in a free-kick to Arda Turan who headed back for Miranda who looped it over to the far post, first-time on the volley, for Saúl to head in. Four players, four touches and the second goal, without the ball hitting the floor. |
| Atlético were irresistible. “It’s one thing knowing how to play against Atlético, it’s another doing it,” Emery said. His team had come looking for the leadership of the league but left lamenting that their league lies elsewhere. “We had a clear vision of what this game would be but the reality took us to a totally different place,” Emery continued. “Atlético are superior to us, that’s the reality. Barcelona couldn’t beat them, they beat Real Madrid. The pressure they put on us destroyed everything we wanted to do. The reality is what it is. We couldn’t stop them.” | Atlético were irresistible. “It’s one thing knowing how to play against Atlético, it’s another doing it,” Emery said. His team had come looking for the leadership of the league but left lamenting that their league lies elsewhere. “We had a clear vision of what this game would be but the reality took us to a totally different place,” Emery continued. “Atlético are superior to us, that’s the reality. Barcelona couldn’t beat them, they beat Real Madrid. The pressure they put on us destroyed everything we wanted to do. The reality is what it is. We couldn’t stop them.” |
| Emery departed and a few minutes later Simeone appeared. “It’s nice to be back,” he said. | Emery departed and a few minutes later Simeone appeared. “It’s nice to be back,” he said. |
| Talking points | Talking points |
| • Valencia’s superb start was halted in San Sebastián, where they drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad ... whose goal was rather fortunately scored by Sergio Canales. But if that was a fluke, the result was not: Diego Alves kept Valencia in it. They’re still unbeaten though. And next week they play Atlético. | • Valencia’s superb start was halted in San Sebastián, where they drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad ... whose goal was rather fortunately scored by Sergio Canales. But if that was a fluke, the result was not: Diego Alves kept Valencia in it. They’re still unbeaten though. And next week they play Atlético. |
| • Levante finally scored in midweek, but not at the weekend. They’re second bottom and they have scored only one all season. Mind you, it was a beauty. | |
| • “I want to say this clearly and unequivocally: in terms of results, we’re being punished absolutely unfairly,” said Deportivo manager Víctor Fernández after his team let in a goal in the 92nd minute, via a lucky deflection. Which is true, but it is not as if they have deserved much more in the last three games either. | |
| • Barcelona did not manage a single shot on target when they drew with Málaga in midweek. Three days later they scored six past Granada. One of them was just like old times, the once-classic Barcelona goal: Xavi’s diagonal ball to Alves’s run, his volleyed cross and Messi running in to score. | |
| • So Leo Baptistao … it turns out he can play a bit after all – when he is at Rayo. That is four goals he has now and Rayo are up to ninth. “I feel like a footballer again,” he said. | |
| • And Eibar are the Basque Country’s best team. Aupa! | • And Eibar are the Basque Country’s best team. Aupa! |
| • Villarreal played brilliantly and finished horribly. Real Madrid largely played well and finished superbly. Villarreal took 19 shots, seven of them on target, but did not score. Real Madrid took 11 shots, three of them on target, and scored twice. Lovely goals from Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo, the second made by Benzema, gave them a 2-0 lead. And then Madrid – their 4-3-3 actually a 4-3-3 for pretty much the first time this season, with James mostly sticking to his left-sided role – controlled the game from an hour onwards, ultimately winning well. A plane flew over the Madrigal carrying one of those rubbish banners saying “Ronaldo come home”, but presumably it did not land at nearby Castellón. | |
| Ronaldo scored again, taking him to a remarkable 10 goals in six league games. No one has had a start that good since Pahíño in 1953, the year after he left Real Madrid. Manuel Fernández, “Pahíno”, had scored 108 goals in 126 matches for Madrid between 1948 and 1953 and was an avid reader of Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, whose contraband books he bought under the counter in Barcelona. He claimed he did not go to the 1950 World Cup because he was “too left-wing.” He had openly laughed when a military man came into the Spain dressing room before a game in 1948 and demanded a pair of balls and “Spanishness” from the players. | |
| Results: Elche 0-1 Celta, Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid, Barcelona 6-0 Granada, Atlético 4-0 Sevilla, Athletic 0-0 Eibar, Levante 0-2 Rayo, Getafe 1-0 Málaga, Deportivo 0-1 Almería, Real Sociedad 1-1 Valencia, Córdoba 0-0 Espanyol. | Results: Elche 0-1 Celta, Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid, Barcelona 6-0 Granada, Atlético 4-0 Sevilla, Athletic 0-0 Eibar, Levante 0-2 Rayo, Getafe 1-0 Málaga, Deportivo 0-1 Almería, Real Sociedad 1-1 Valencia, Córdoba 0-0 Espanyol. |
Previous version
1
Next version