Every time Atletico Madrid is the protagonist in a Champions League playoff, it revives the debate about the style of play preached by Diego Simeone. In the first leg against Manchester City, many announced it as a clash of football ideologies. The Spanish team fell by a limited 1-0 thanks to a shot by Kevin de Bruyne, but the reality is that the Colchonero could not cause danger to Ederson throughout the game. From the end of the match to the present day, the debate about whether Cholo's approach was right or wrong has already reached another level of criticism.
One of those who appeared to speak negatively about the Argentine coach was former footballer Marco van Basten. “What Atletico Madrid is doing is legal, it is allowed, but I am surprised that there is a team with ten players behind the ball during the 90 minutes that is just trying to avoid conceding a goal,” he started in a chat with Dutch media Ziggo Sport. To which he added: “A football organization like FIFA should start thinking about ways to make football more fun. With this style of football there is no enjoyment.”
With little desire to empathize with Simeone, Van Basten gave a cruel comparison. “It would make more sense for the fan to change the channel and go to watch Netflix with that time,” he shot on the few goal situations generated by Atleti. And he put the strikers of the team as victims of history: “There is no one to blame. A coach can choose to play like this, it's just not nice to see two players like Felix and Griezmann play defensive for 90 minutes.”
The former Dutch footballer joined Dean Saunders, a Welsh past in Liverpool, Aston Villa, Galatasaray and Benfica, who called Simeone's style “parasitic football” and Arrigo Sacchi, one of the best coaches in history , who said that because of the way they play, Atlético “does not give you joy even when you win”. However, in the midst of the media attacks, Diego Simeone defended his training method and even received the support of Josep Guardiola in the preview of meeting back. Van Basten is one of the greatest scorers in history with outstanding performances wearing his country's Ajax jersey and Italy's Milan, the clubs where he shone between the early 80s and the mid-90s.
The critics' eyes will be focused this Wednesday at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium where Atletico Madrid is preparing to once again jump on the court against Manchester City in the hope of lifting the disadvantage of a goal and adding a new golden page to their Champions League history.
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