Simeone is building a legacy at Atlético Madrid
Antoine Griezmann has been the key to Atlético Madrid’s attack for years now. Most weeks, if you check on their score, you’ll most likely read ‘Atlético Madrid 1-0 whoever they’re playing. Griezmann, 65’. His efficiency in front of goal, combined with his burst of pace, close control and willingness to ‘suffer’ for the team, as they say in Spain, has made him a vital asset to Atlético. But, as is usually the case, he wouldn’t be where he is without his manager’s influence.
What Diego Simeone has achieved at Atlético should not be underestimated. Not only has he taken Atlético from the seventh best to the third best team in the country, he ended he Madrid-Barcelona duopoly in 2013/14, winning La Liga at the Nou Camp. He also came within a minute of winning the Champions League that season. His achievements at the Vicente Calderon (and now the Wanda Metropolitano) have been remarkable, and Griezmann has spoken about his coach in glowing terms.
“What ‘el Cholo’ [Simeone] is doing for this club is historic. It reminds me a bit of Ferguson and what he did with Manchester United. Hopefully he’ll have that career because he deserves it, and he has taken the term where he intended, to the maximum, to among the best teams in the world. We are there thanks to him”, Griezmann said.
It would require a lot more time and a few more trophies for Simeone’s legacy to be considered on par with Ferguson’s although he faces quite the challenge in overthrowing the status quo in Spain.
Griezmann also credited Simeone for his development on and off the field. “‘El Cholo’ has made me grow on a personal and professional level. I believe that tactically, on a defensive level he is the best in the world. You can see every year that it is a joy to be able to work with him.”
Griezmann has been heavily linked with a move away over the past few windows and will eventually move on to either Barcelona or Manchester United, but he clearly has a strong bond with Atlético Madrid. Last summer, he would have left the club but stayed out of duty as the club had a transfer ban and would not have been able to replace him.
Atlético Madrid will travel to Lyon to take on Marseille in the Europa League final on Wednesday evening, and enter the match as heavy favourites. Simeone will be hoping it’s not Griezmann’s last game in red and white.
