Simeone He became champion with Atlético in all the competitions he participated in: League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Europa League. There is only one exception, but it is the most painful of all. The Champions League is the thorn in Cholo’s heart, A finalist twice and a semi-finalist once. He touched glory, but it eluded him when he seemed to have it in his grasp.
This Thursday A new edition begins for Atlético of the only tournament that resists its coach, the most important of all, the one that grants the most sporting prestige and the most economic benefits. The team has not played in the semi-finals for seven years and this will be the first objective of a path that begins Thursday at the Metropolitano against Leipzig, executioner of the rojiblancos in the quarter-finals of the 19-20 season. He is not a simple rival. Is third in the Bundesliga, just two points behind Bayern, and a few weeks ago he achieved something that no one was capable of last season: defeat Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. And what’s more, in their own stadium.
This will be the Simeone’s twelfth consecutive Champions League as Atlético coach, a spectacular record that is only matched by Real Madrid, Barcelona, City, Bayern and PSG. Two finalists, one semi-final, four quarter-finals, two round of 16 and two group stage eliminations mean the best balance in the history of the club in the maximum competition with an abysmal difference compared to the others. Simeone himself He also played this tournament as a footballer in the 96-97 course. They lost to Ajax in the quarter-finals in a match in which misfortune befell the Madrid team: Esnaider missed a decisive penalty, Ajax scored a caricature goal almost from the center of the field and Van der Saar He gave real mastery in the Dutch goal. It’s been almost 30 years.
The round of 16 matches against Liverpool (2020), Manchester United (2022) and Inter (2024) are the best memories of recent years Atlético in the Champions League. On the other hand, without a doubt the disastrous group stage two editions ago, in which he could only win one match and came last, remains indelible in the memory of the fans. From Thursday everything starts again for Simeone and his players. Will it be the right year? In May we will have the answer.
Simeone’s 11th Champions League:
- 13-14: Finalist
- 14-15: Quarter finals
- 15-16: Finalist
- 16-17: Semi-finalist
- 17-18: Eliminated in the group stage
- 18-19: Round of 16
- 19-20: Quarter finals
- 20-21: Round of 16
- 21-22: Quarter finals
- 22-23: Eliminated in the group stage
- 23-24: Quarter finals
