Los Colchoneros are extremely loyal fans, could be said among the most loyal in the world. But on Wednesday against Milan, on an unusually chilly night for Madrid, the spectators who – despite the temperature, prices and Covid-19 – came to the Wanda Metropolitano to cheer their team with enthusiasm, returned home with their heads bowed and in disappointment.Barcelona are in an economic and generational crisis, and Xavi is facing a huge and difficult task. Real are struggling with a lot of what they have. Sevilla, Real Sociedad and other teams at the top of the table traditionally have a problem of continuity. But how is it possible that the red and whites, who have never had such a high-quality and expensive team in their history, with a bench that could worthily oppose many, seem so beheaded and lost?Of the last 16 official matches, they have won only six. In terms of the percentage of victories, the number of goals scored and conceded, these are the worst numbers since Diego Simeone, 10 years ago, joined the club. Sometime in February, when they started to lose the huge advantage gained in the first half of 2020/2021, Atletico slowly started going downhill. Watching them looks like playing roulette more than ever – half of this season’s games were decided after the 85th minute.Griezmann: Times at Barca weren’t a disaster but some parts were difficultThey are fourth on the table of La Liga, behind Real Madrid, Sociedad and Sevilla. In the last game of Group B of the Champions League, they have to beat Porto with one goal more than Milan would eventually beat Liverpool, with Porto also struggling to advance to the next stage, while Liverpool already qualified.As a result, the situation is not out of their hands, but currently Atletico deserve even less than what they have collected.The Spanish media have been trying for weeks to solve the enigma of the bad performance of the red and whites. Sometimes it’s the players ’fault. Sometimes it’s Simeone’s fault. Sometimes defense is lacking, sometimes attack, and sometimes midfield. The problem may be that Cholo doesn’t know how to play other than with a tight 4-4-2 formation. Or maybe Cholo shouldn’t play differently, because when the team opens up on the pitch, they remain too vulnerable due to poor defense. The question of his personal ego and stubbornness arises. Although, on the other hand, he is able to animate and raise players from the ashes like he did with Thomas Lemar.All the previous explanations could be heard in countless analyzes of the game of Los Colchoneros. But in essence, it is not entirely clear to anyone what is happening.Simeone’s sons are his biggest accomplishment: Everyone’s talking about Giuliano’s fair play moveToday’s Atletico are worth 845 million USD – almost four times more than the period when Simeone arrived (with Falcao in the team then, who was incredible at the time). When they won the famous 2013/14 league title with 100 points in a direct duel against Barcelona and played the Champions League final against Real Madrid in 2014, the total value of the team was 380 million. Today’s Atletico has Suarez, Griezmann and Joao Felix, and the most expensive arrival in the Spanish league this season – Rodrigo de Paul.And if all that is not enough, the Spanish press does not stop mentioning the possible arrival of Dusan Vlahovic. For “trivial” 90 million USD.All in all, with such stars, goals would have to pour. But Atletico scores only 1.44 goals per game (compared to 1.60 from last season, and even 1.90 from 2013/2014).Simeone: ‘I won’t shake hands with Klopp tomorrow’When Luis Suarez arrived, Simeone stated that he would force them to change the way they played. And Suarez fulfills his tasks as much as he can. But unfortunately too often we see him completely isolated in the opponent’s penalty area. Or too far from it.It was believed that Griezmann’s return would be easy, but it seems that the Little Prince does not manage to fit into the new Atletico, and so far he has scored only five goals. And not only that. His arrival had a negative impact on certain teammates, especially Angel Correa.Joao Felix is slowly waking up, more and more often we see his moves on the pitch that justify his unique talent. But, at the age of 21, he still does not show the necessary maturity to realize his potential or to lead the team.Rodrigo de Paul, who excels in the Argentine national team at every international break, has played only one great game in Atletico for now – against Valencia. Sources close to the club state that he is not satisfied with his situation – starting with the fact that there is no defined place in the first team.On the other hand, the players who have been a pillar of the team for years have given up. Of the four captains, perhaps only Stefan Savić exudes the same security as before. Oblak makes mistakes he never made before, Jimenez was to blame for Milan’s goal in the 87th minute.Llorente and the eternal problem of his position have now moved from the Spanish national team to Atletico. Simeone does not trust Vrsaljko to replace the injured Trippier. And Kondogbia is in a similar situation as Vrsaljko. The Central African also carries an ungrateful label – as soon as we see him warming up, we know that the team will be shifting to a close formation and defend.HOLD THAT @Atleti pic.twitter.com/fnyZlCFsVy— Tareq (@VaIverde_) November 24, 2021 And finally, there’s Koke. The only player who has a profile of a playmaker. The captain and engine of the team, to which we usually pay more attention when it is not working, because that affects the overall performance of the team. And although his game is worrying at the moment, he is irreplaceable, and not only because he does not have an adequate reserve on the bench.After Theo Hernandez (accidentally or intentionally) stepped on the crest of Atletico after training at the Wanda Metropolitano, in the first play of the game, Koke (accidentally or intentionally) tackled him with all his might. Because you do not trample the Atletico logo. And after such a statement he made for Atletico, the fans did not care Koke had a number of dangerously bad passes during the matchThe same goes for Simeone. December 23 will be exactly 10 years since he arrived on the red-and-white bench, and no one is even trying to dispute his merits. Participation in European competitions with nine consecutive seasons in the Champions League and two finals, brought them to the top of the football elite. Cholo is the second longest-serving coach in the history of the Spanish league and the most trophy-winning coach in the history of the club. He stands side by side with legends such as Luis Aragones or Radomir Antić. Who will then dare to say that his time has passed?Cholo also earns an insanely high salary, twice as high as Pep Guardiola in City or Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool. In the world of football, only Leo Messi earns more than him. Which brings us to the next problem. The red and whites have never had this amount of capital. Miguel Ángel Gil Marín is a very successful entrepreneur who has always managed the club’s finances very well, and with Simeone’s football merits, the club has exponentially increased its value.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Of course, in such a situation, if Griezmann and Suarez are offered for free, why not. If you can pay Joao Felix, why not. However, the circumstances, which should be ideal, created chaos in the concept of Atletico’s game. The composition of the team is cluttered, unplanned and unbalanced. It is the fault of Simeone who allowed it, but also of the sports administration headed by Andrea Bert, who seemed to be blinded by the glitter of success and the stars that are being offered. Forgetting, at the same time, that it is necessary to cover the positions in the defense and in the midfield.Those of evil intents often mention that Atletico has a small club mentality. Part of the problem may be that everyone, from the player to the president, should get used to the gradual transition to football elite. But unfortunately, in that transition, which we don’t know how it will end, the red and whites seem to be losing their core. Little by little, the famous motto “Coraje y corazón” fades, courage and bravery that come from the awareness that they are a “people’s team” that fights against stronger opponents.Now that difficult matches are coming up, against Real, Sevilla, Porto, the fans hope that Atletico, as they always did in difficult moments, will raise their heads, because, if anyone is able to do that, the red and whites are. But are they still those old ‘red and whites’?🚨Simeone and Atletico Madrid are afraid that Liverpool may ‘take the foot out of the pedal’ and lower the intensity against Porto, with that giving Porto a chance to grab points against the Anfield side, and ultimately eliminating Atletico Madrid [Marca] 😭🔴 #LFC #liverpoolfc pic.twitter.com/4bsnL8j2WL— L5starfc ➐ (@l5starfc) November 24, 2021 It’s hard to say at this point. It is clear, however, that Simeone must return to the formulas that have guaranteed him success so far. And we don’t mean the game system. It’s about work, sacrifice, players who think about what they can do for Atletico, not what Atletico can do for them.They have to become a solid and united team again, instead of the sum of individuals. And the club must support the mentality of the group. Then, and only then, talent and names will manage to become part of the structure and red and white will become what they have the potential for.LA LIGA – ROUND 15FridayAth. Bilbao – Granada 2-2 (1-2)/Raul Garcia 10, Maximiano 76 og – Machis 25, Molina 34/SaturdayAlaves – Celta 1-2 (1-1)/Jesuli 21 – Santi Mina 11, Aspas 70/Valencia – Rayo Vallecano 1-1 (1-0)/Soler 19 pen – Palazon 64/Mallorca – Getafe 0-0Villareal – Barcelona 1-3 (0-0)/Chukwueze 76 – De Jong 48, Depay 88, Coutinho 90+3 pen/Sunday16:00: (1.67) Betis (3.90) Levante (5.90)18:15: (3.50) Espanyol (3.25) Sociedad (2.30)20:30: (7.50) Cadiz (4.00) Atl.Madrid (1.55)23:00: (1.70) Real Madrid (3.80) Sevilla (5.70)
