200 million euros cannot save Atletico

Atletico have huge investments in the summer of 2024.

The 1-0 defeat to Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final not only officially ended Atletico Madrid’s trophyless season, but also exposed a bitter truth: the team that spent nearly 200 million euros in the summer still could not launch a single shot on target at home. While coach Diego Simeone tried to soothe with positive words, center-back Jose María Giménez was straightforward in naming the problem.

Wrong tactics and “a wasted first half”

The Metropolitano Stadium is an impregnable fortress for Atletico Madrid. But on the night of the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, it became the place where the red and white striped team bowed their heads and left the tournament without leaving a worthy mark. They let Barcelona take the lead in the 27th minute and were helpless for the rest of the match. Worse, throughout the entire 90 minutes, Atletico did not have a single shot on target - a statistic that would make any big team question themselves.

That defeat marked not only a defeat in terms of score, but also a defeat in spirit, in tactics, and in expectations. After the summer transfer window of 2024, which was considered the strongest in many years, with a total cost of 185 million euros, Atletico brought in famous names: Julian Alvarez - World Cup champion, Robin Le Normand - the main center back of the Spanish national team, La Liga top scorer Alexander Sørloth, versatile midfielder Conor Gallagher and the loan contract from Barca - Clement Lenglet.

The goal was clear: win La Liga, go far in the Champions League, and at least reach the final of the Copa del Rey. But the reality was completely cruel: eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League, defeated by Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, and currently 9 points behind Barça in the La Liga standings.

Speaking after the match, vice-captain Jose Maria Giménez could not hide his disappointment: “We are sad, we are hurt - for ourselves and for the fans. We apologize for losing the first half. If we had entered the game with the same spirit as in the second half, things could have been very different.”

Those words may have resonated with fans, but they also made the person involved - coach Diego Simeone - feel the need to speak up. In the press conference, he declared: “The first half was not good, but it is not to the point of apologizing. Sometimes, you have to admit that the opponent played better. We played very well in the second half, we could have equalized. But you cannot ask the team to play 90 minutes with that kind of intensity - especially when the opponent is Barcelona.”

However, coach Diego Simeone and his team are likely to be empty-handed in the 2024/25 season.

The difference in perspective between player and coach was clear. Gimenez spoke for many fans who had seen their team play in a deadlocked, disjointed and characterless manner. Simeone, as always, remained loyal to his defensive mindset, pragmatic approach and tendency to avoid criticising his players publicly.

When the team needed a star moment to make a difference, Antoine Griezmann - Atlético's biggest icon for the past decade - was completely silent. The French striker played until the 81st minute but failed to make any impact. In his last 12 games in all competitions, Griezmann has just 1 goal and 1 assist - too few for a player who used to be a leader.

At 34, Griezmann is no longer as prolific as he once was and is increasingly looking to MLS as a career-ending destination. His current contract expires in June 2026, but whether he will stick with the team for two more seasons is a question mark.

Complete tactical failure

Simeone has always been famous for his ability to organize defense and counterattack quickly. But against a Barca team that did not have many attacking options, Atletico still played as if they were completely dominated. Counterattacks - traditionally the team's strong point - were almost non-existent. The Álvarez-Giuliano Simeone duo were constantly starved of the ball, lacking a connecting link from the midfield.

The midfield, despite having Gallagher, De Paul or Koke, still could not control the midfield area. Although Barca did not press hard, they easily divided the home team's lines.

A series of falls caused Atletico to collapse in three arenas.

After Gimenez's conflicting statements, the Uruguayan centre-back clarified his position in the mixed interview area, stressing that he still supported his coach. Simeone continued to defend his team: "We are competing well on all fronts. I believe in the players, in my team. The goal now is to focus on La Liga, starting with the match against Sevilla."

Simeone remains steadfast in his philosophy - a philosophy that has helped him become the greatest coach in Atletico's history, but is also gradually being questioned in the current context. Big investment, high expectations, but results do not go hand in hand with strength. Atletico Madrid this season is a team that has been strongly upgraded in terms of personnel, but lacks identity, lacks fire and especially lacks breakthroughs in big matches.

When a team fails to muster a single shot on target at home in a Copa del Rey semi-final, it is no longer a matter of luck. Atletico Madrid are losing themselves - losing the fighting spirit that once made them the most feared team in Europe.

And when people like Gimenez have to speak out, it means the frustration has gone beyond the dressing room's tolerance threshold. Simeone may continue to believe "everything is fine", but the fans do not.

Source: https://znews.vn/200-trieu-euro-khong-cuu-noi-atletico-post1543056.html