Mission Accomplished for Atletico Madrid...Now What?

As Atletico Madrid's manager, Javier Aguirre, walked into the room for his usual postgame conference with the media, he was met by a less-than-familiar sound for a football coach.

Applause.

After the 4-0 thrashing of Schalke 04, the Spanish press, notorious for being sharp and critical, gave the Mexican more than a polite pat on the back for his exploits. Then, partially in jest, they reminded him that a quick exit from the Champions League would evoke a different reaction from them as well as the fans.

After all they've been through, a quick taste of glory will just not do.

11 years.

It had been 11 years since the likes of Diego Simeone and Jose Luis Caminero took La Liga and the Copa del Rey, winning a double for the first time ever in the franchise's history. 11 years since Atlético tasted any kind of glory. 11 years of a managerial revolving door, a time which included a dreaded spell in Spain's second division. 11 years since they played in the Champions League.

So, Aguirre basked in the glow, smiled and accepted the praise. Only a few days later, much to the chagrin of the manager, the honeymoon was over as the group draw was announced. Atlético was thrust into the group of death, alongside Dutch champions PSV, perennial French contenders Marseille and English titans Liverpool.

Suddenly, the dream becomes a nightmare: Teams that tend to compete in multiple tournaments will see their league production drop off a bit due to the natural fatigue that builds up in squads due to the incessant traveling.

Atletico fans, always the masochists, (Agustin de la Fuente Quintana, Atletico's oldest shareholder, was known to say "I quit smoking at 63. When I turned 70, I quit drinking. I've given up salt, coffee, gambling and playing cards in general...but goddamn Atleti!? It kills me, it gives me life") will begin to wonder if it will take them another decade to reach European glory, but one quick glance at their depth chart yields more confidence than doubt, more optimism than pessimism.

With major stars on their team—like Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlán, Maxi Rodríguez, Gregory Coupet, Simao Sabrosa, and Luis Garcia to name a few—Atleti have the firepower to stand up to most any squad in Europe.

PSV is a strong team in a weak league, and Marseille often plays second fiddle to French behemoths Lyon, even the stingiest detractor would have to situate the Colchoneros in one of the top two spots.

Whereas Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has an intimate knowledge of Spanish football, Luis García, Atleti's favorite offensive option off the bench, has played for Benitez. Fernando Torres, Liverpool's brightest star, played for Madrid the better part of the decade. Javier Aguirre, renowned amongst his peers for being an obsessive preparer, is surely readying the chess match to come.

With the Champions League less than a month away from being in full swing, Atletico supporters should shed their fatalistic attitude and paradoxically embrace death. The group of death is theirs for the taking.