Twice the win. The Simeone effect.

After a long time away from the site, we’re delighted to have Ricardo Menéndez back with us. Much has happened on the banks of the Manzanares in that time, but Ricky is here to talk about a quite significant issue; the arrival of Diego  Simeone.

“He conquers twice who conquers himself in victory”
Publius Syrus

Diego Simeone’s team will on Monday play their fourth match since the Argentinean coach took over from Gregorio Manzano’s wobbly line-up, harnessing disastrous away results (Atleti went from being the worst away side in La Liga to becoming the worst in all Europe) and failing to convince even in home matches. It is still too soon to have a clear judgement on whether Simeone’s effect on the team, is more than a temporary improvement every team has upon recruiting a new man. What is true is though, is that the change has been astounding and the difference in results has been akin to contrasting the night from the day. Simeone has collected 77% of the points at large whereas Manzano only managed to reap a poor 39%. El Cholo’s first match was away, and he managed to earn a draw, equalising Manzano’s mark. The departed coach taking 7 games to get that single point, though.

There is more: Falcao, the star signing of this summer, has scored a third of his goals in the last two games, abandoning a drought as the offensive reference of the team, and turning the Colombian from possible flop of the year into the most effective striker at the Vicente Calderón since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink…in just two games. Football is a state of mind.

The defensive line had allowed 27 goals in 23 games which is an abnormally high ratio to rank in top La Liga spots, unless your offensive line is netting an incredible amount of goals. That wasn’t the case either, and after the elusive hefty wins against Sporting and Racing at the beginning of the season, both by 4-0, Atleti’s effectiveness stumped and went from bad to worse until Manzano was eventually, dismissed. The team lost by 2 or more goals against five sides; Betis, Espanyol, Athletic, Real Madrid and Barcelona. But, they were only able to win Real Zaragoza and Rayo Vallecano by that difference.

There were many draws too, some came unexpected like Osasuna or Mallorca at home, or Granada away. With such an amount of points down the drain only excellent football could save Manzano from getting fired.

But there was far from that, and it became a point of no return point at the Camp Nou, when the team lost 5-0 and Manzano topped supporter shame with the infamous “We couldn’t have won tonight even against their youth team”. It was a perfect example of things you can never say even if you think them.

The team from that night on looked shaky at home, fearful of supporter wrath at the first mistake and completely lost focus in away games, where hosts found Atleti the perfect guest for a pleasant match. The only question one could ask wasn’t should Manzano get fired, but why it took the owners so long to end Manzano’s period as Atleti’s coach.

Now after only 3 games here with Simeone the sun shines once again for Rojioblancos souls everywhere. The team has gone from heading the list of teams who average more goals conceded per game to collecting 3 clean sheets and 7 out of an available 9 points for the first time in La Liga. 7 goals were scored in what might have been the best home and away games –  versus Villarreal and Real Sociedad respectively.  Players left feeling unwanted, and left previously on the sidelines, are now enjoying the spotlight and making it into the starting eleven. Such is the case of Tiago, Diego Godín, Juanfran and exciting youngster Koke. If Atleti wins against Osasuna on Monday, they would have the first series of three consecutive wins in the season. An unprecedented treble.

The feeling of looking down has dissolved, and now it’s all looking up, quite literally, at Valencia and Levante. Both teams, who slipped up this past weekend. Champions League has gone from utopia to challenge in just two weeks. It is true that Atleti fans tend to get carried away once they end two game rounds in a good mood, but the change is deeper and faster than expected.

The team has found consistency at the back, and no one seems to miss right back Silvio anymore – and that does come as a surprise. Suddenly every defensive player on the squad looks solid and awash with confidence.

In the much improved offensive line, Adrián has finally found his spot as the perfect sidekick of Falcao, helping carry the supply of balls Diego delivers every game. Arda Turan and Tiago too, are expected to have key roles in this new Atleti. Gabi, Mario Suárez and Koke have a head start over Assunção for minutes on the pitch, and as a line the midfield is generating the necessary fierce competition every team should have. Beforehand Eduardo Salvio was expected to play quite often, now that a fellow Argentinean coach was on the bench, but Simeone has made it clear that football merits are his only flag. His old-time “buddies” Luis Perea and Antonio López aren’t getting any more minutes for having shared the same dressing room either.

Intensity is the new buzz word at the Manzanares, and it’s repeated so time after time at every press conference. So is sacrifice. Simeone repeats this whenever quizzed on the preferences of position or role desired by any particular player. The attitude must be for the greater good of the team. Diego, Tiago and Falcao have understood the message quickly and are the new natural leaders on the pitch.

Intensity and sacrifice combine to obtain results – and it seems to be paying off quickly.

The defensive sacrifice starts with Falcao and the offensive intensity with Thibaut Courtois. When asked, Simeone always says that things can only get better. The players are rediscovering themselves and fans will only be too happy to rediscover this new, and improved, version of their still beloved players.

Twenty-two centuries ago Publius Syrus, a latin writer famous for many latin quotes, said victory is twice won when oneself is conquered in the battle. Publius Syrus also wrote once that it is better to learn late than never.

Simeone wants to prove him right.

Twice.

Ricardo co-hosts the all Atlético Madrid podcast “This is Atleti” as well as the Spanish version of the show “Esto es Atleti”. Both of which can be found here (ENG) and here (ESP). You can follow him by the means of Twitter here, and visit sites he’s contributed to such as Forza Atleti, La Vida En Rojiblanco and Madrid Atléticos.

Tags: Adrian, Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone, Falcao, Gabi, Godin, La Liga