Barcelona might have dominated the headlines in recent weeks, but another big story ahead of the new La Liga season is whether another Spanish giant requires a similarly drastic change in direction: Atletico Madrid.
It’s difficult to know exactly how we should judge Atletico’s 2019/20 season, which saw them finish third in La Liga, and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after knocking out holders Liverpool.
That means their campaign certainly cannot be labelled as a failure, but it’s impossible to avoid the feeling they could have achieved so much more.
With Real Madrid and Barcelona both enduring tough times at various stages of the season, should they have challenged more seriously for the league title?
And with their path to the Champions League Final presenting unfancied Red Bull Leipzig in the quarter-finals and unpredictable Paris Saint-Germain in the semis, should Atletico feel disappointed they did not come closer to European glory?
Well, that depends. If you take a historical perspective, it’s ludicrous to suggest that Atletico ‘should be’ challenging on an equal footing with Barca, Madrid or any of the continent’s biggest names, because until recently, Atletico have rarely even come close to standing shoulder to shoulder with giants of that stature.
But with nine trophies in the last ten years and eight consecutive top three finishes in La Liga, this is, by far, the greatest era in the club’s history and arguably the springboard for greater triumphs.
The architect of all the recent success, of course, is Diego Simeone, whose crowning moment of the 2013/14 Spanish title was the clearest realisation of one man’s vision you could ever wish to see.
The problem is that Simeone has set such a high bar, he is now routinely expected to do even more than merely transform the team from perennial underachievers into consistent contenders. He is, in some quarters, expected to make Atletico truly dominant – and to do so by ushering in an expansive style of football far removed from the aggressive, combative, us against the world mentality that has characterised his nine-year reign.
The accusation against Simeone is that old phrase…he has taken the club as far as he can. That argument claims that although he dragged them up from the bottom of the mountain towards the summit, now someone else – someone who doesn’t always need to feel like the hard done by underdog – needs to guide the club on the final few steps to the peak.
These arguments coalesce around the figure of one player: Joao Felix.
The young Portuguese star is widely regarded as a generational talent, potentially even the most gifted creative force in world football. His transfer fee a year ago of €126 million suggests the same.
But can he do that in a Diego Simeone team, where the focus is on defence first, containing the opposition rather than dominating them? Or will Joao Felix only be truly able to shine under the guidance of a more progressive, attack-minded coach?
The hugely disappointing manner of Atletico’s Champions League exit against Leipzig, and many of their dropped points in La Liga last season, strengthened the case against Simeone, who is seen as too stuck in his ways to make Atletico any better than they currently are.
But this isn’t just a question of football tactics: it is also a matter of identity. Atletico have always been the team of the working class. The scruffy little street urchins forever condemned to stand in the shadow of their glamorous and glitzy neighbour. Simeone gets that – and part of the reason he has been able to taste so much success as both a player and manager for Atletico is that he revels in that role.
Attempting to cast off decades of history and remoulding the whole club as a different entity, based on different values and different expectations, would be extremely risky indeed.
Yes, a new manager could build the team around Joao Felix. He could liberate Saul, and allow Koke to play further upfield. He could give the whole team the confidence to take control and dominate possession.
But where would Atletico be without the trademark defensive resilience instilled by Diego Simeone? Without those firm foundations, everything could fall apart.
The debate will continue, and in the opening weeks of the impending season it will be fascinating to see whether Simeone responds to the criticisms he has faced, and attempts to open up a new style. But it’s probably wise not to hold your breath.
