Are Atletico Playing Games with Real Madrid Before Champions League Final?
MAJADAHONDA, Madrid — By this time next week Atletico Madrid may be celebrating their first UEFA Champions League triumph. And if that is the case, though their dreams will have been realised in Milan’s San Siro, perhaps the seeds were sown back at home a week earlier.
On a sunny Saturday in the heart of Spain, the club opened up the doors of their Majadahonda training complex to the media, a municipality situated 16 kilometres north of the capital, in a clean, quiet, well-to-do area.
Diego Simeone spoke before 250 accredited journalists ahead of leading the squad on a training session, which was for once open to watch from start to finish. Usually, only the first 15 minutes are accessible.
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Then, five players—Jan Oblak, Antoine Griezmann, Koke, Augusto Fernandez and Diego Godin—spoke to the media one by one, answering questions on the upcoming final against Real Madrid, on May 28.
So far, so normal. Most clubs hold similar events when they reach the latter stages of the competition. Real’s media day is on Tuesday.
But there were several interesting observations to be made during Atletico’s open day. Some of which give reason to believe the Rojiblancos could be setting a trap for Real Madrid.
Simeone was calm, relaxed and expressive during his time in front of the media. That's a state he isn’t always found in. Ahead of big games, he can be tense and terse.
“Pure football,” he said happily, when asked of his opinion of the final’s venue. And he was also pleased to see a message from his sons in Argentina, shown to him on a screen by journalists from his homeland.
Asked what it was like to be so far from his family, Simeone replied: "To be out of the country, not to be close to your children, it's not easy. That makes things difficult, but the quality of minutes is better than the quantity. And we have quality minutes."
He used the same phrase—quality minutes—about Yannick Carrasco’s potential impact on the final. Don’t let anyone tell you he doesn’t keep his players close to him. Few coaches command such love from their charges.
The Belgian winger is one of two players who may or may not start in the final, with 10 of the starting lineup virtually cast in stone.
Of Carrasco, he said: "Along with Augusto, he's one of the boys who adapted most quickly. He has a tremendous future and a very good present, he’s a very important player for the final.
"He can change the rhythm, score, dribble...in the minutes we use him he will the difference-maker. Whether that's 90, 60, 30, minutes, the minutes have to be quality. In a final, one minute can mean everything."
The overall drift of Simeone’s speech hinted Carrasco would be a substitute for the final. That feeling was backed up by Augusto’s presence as one of the speakers. The other four stars presented are all guaranteed starters.
Augusto is the other player whose place is not assured. But when the players headed out to train, after some warm-up exercises, they played a full 11 vs. 11 game.
In red were what is likely to be the first team in Milan: Oblak, Juanfran, Jose Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis, Augusto, Gabi, Saul Niguez, Koke, Griezmann and Fernando Torres.
Further evidence Carrasco will be on the bench and Augusto will start, or a trick?
Knowing the eyes of the world were watching through the media lens, obviously including Real Madrid scouts, would Simeone really have made so obvious the team he plans to start in the final? Or could it be a double bluff?
Simeone’s calmness seemed to be that of a man who knows exactly what he is going to do. And it was a feeling shared by the rest of the squad.
Griezmann, for example, casually supped on a mate as he was driven into training and joined the press corps while Koke was being questioned. He raised his hand, received the microphone and asked his team-mate a question.
"Here on the left, Atletico Madrid footballer Antoine Griezmann," he said, causing heads to turn. "Who's the classiest dresser in the dressing room and the worst?"
"The most classy is you," laughed Koke. "And the other one I won't say because I'd kill him [by revealing it]."
It displayed the camaraderie Atletico’s success has been built on.
The only moment anybody lost their cool was during the training game, which finished 0-0—perhaps unsurprisingly given the club’s defensive prowess—when Griezmann missed a penalty.
The forward stuck it wide of the right-hand post after Simeone had awarded it from 40 yards away. Dodgy refereeing perhaps, but could you blame the coach for awarding his own team a spot-kick?
Oblak revealed in the press conference that Atletico aren’t practicing penalties, although that could be another white lie.
Even the corner Griezmann fired his effort wide of may have been premeditated. It was the same side he sent his penalty against Barcelona in the quarter-final second leg. If he gets one in Milan, which way would Keylor Navas dive?
During the training game, the B team lined up in white bibs, representing Real Madrid, and the formation they played was 4-3-3, the same way Los Blancos will likely play in the final.
Carrasco, being the Atletico player most similar to Cristiano Ronaldo—at least not in the first team—played on the left. Angel Correa, who offers the speed of Gareth Bale, was on the right and Luciano Vietto played the Karim Benzema role in the middle.
But perhaps the one action that may affect the Champions League final the most was Simeone’s semi-goad, semi-factual point about Real Madrid playing on the counter attack.
"I expect Madrid to approach the game like they did the clash with Manchester City," said Simeone. "I think they will be cautious."
He continued: "They will play on the counter-attack, like they have been doing in every game in the Champions League."
It was the sort of comment that will be discussed in the Spanish media ahead of the game, seeping into the minds of fans and perhaps even Real boss Zinedine Zidane too.
Maybe Simeone is slyly encouraging Madrid to come at Atletico, which is just how they like it in these sort of games.
Atletico gave the world, and Real Madrid, a look inside the club on Saturday. It could be smoke and mirrors. It could be just how things are.
Madrid have won just one of their last 10 games against Atletico. The power has shifted, and it will be those at the Santiago Bernabeu who are more nervous about the final.
What is for sure is Atletico are confident, calm and ready to exact revenge for what happened in 2014's final.
"We’re taking this as a new opportunity,” said Godin. But below the surface, thoughts of his goal that took Atletico to the brink of victory in Lisbon, but for Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute equaliser, were likely bubbling.
All quotes obtained firsthand.
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