1 week ago Atlético crush Real Madrid to leave Simeone in tears and Alonso hurting | Sid Lowe

Emotions abound at the Metropolitano as Atleti’s five goals left the coach crying on the touchline and his team revitalisedIn the final few minutes before the derby day that was destined to be the best they ever had, Diego Simeone gathered his players and asked if they were OK. The pressure was intense, their need desperate, but of all the things that are truly important in your lives, he wanted to know, is there anything that’s not right? Does anyone have any problems?“All of them said ‘no’,” Atlético Madrid’s manager admitted later, when the Metropolitano had finally fallen silent, the singing drifting in from down Avenida de Luis Aragonés instead. “So I said: ‘then play, have fun. You’re good. Enjoy yourselves. A footballer’s life passes quickly, make the most of it; these games don’t come back.’” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Brand new day for Atlético as Julián Alvarez tees up derby with dramatic rescue | Sid Lowe

Atlético Madrid needed their own superhero in the win over Rayo, but next comes a derby they cannot lose“Football is fantastic,” Diego Simeone said, which he could say by then. All night he had watched Marcos Llorente fly up the wing; for the last half an hour he had watched his son do so too, all clenched jaw and bulging veins, stuck on fast forward, a determination so intense it looked like he might explode. Now it was the Atlético Madrid manager’s turn, who had literally been on his knees for much of the night, sprinting up the touchline in his black suit and shiny shoes, screaming and let loose again. Simeone had been here before, a week earlier, when he had admitted that Atlético’s victory had brought relief not joy. This was even wilder: five goals, four of them belters, and 54,098 people losing their heads.Simeone especially. Six weeks into the season and for the sixth time, Atlético had scored first; for the fifth time, though, they weren’t going to win. Worse, this time the...

Events

3 w. ago Football Daily | Diego Simeone, Anfield and some shouting in the workplace

Prepare the tiny violins! Someone has been shouting at Diego Simeone! Famously thin-skinned and a bastion of all that is right and pure in this world, the Atlético Madrid manager was sent off on Wednesday night at Anfield after reacting to a fan’s jibes from behind the dugout, following Liverpool’s latest Slottage-time winner in their Bigger Cup tie.While admiring John Waugh’s ‘more is more’ celebration of the extended Bigger Cup format (yesterday’s Football Daily letters), he evoked Albert Camus as justification for his case. As we all know, Camus owed everything he knew about morality and the obligations of men to football, but, whereas life may be meaningless, his love of his team RUA was so deep that when he went to Paris he went to watch Racing Club, because they wore the same kit as RUA, so he could pretend to still be watching his favourite team. ‘After all,’ he wrote (in French), ‘that’s why I loved my team so much – for the joy of victories, so wonderful when paired with th...

Events

3 w. ago Diego Simeone UEFA suspension explained after red card in Liverpool win against Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was shown a red card in the closing stages of his side's 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday night

Economics

3 w. ago Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone 'absolutely loses the plot' in red

Diego Simeone was handed a red card after flying into a rage which appeared to be sparked by Liverpool fans in the crowd amid chaotic scenes after the Reds' late winner against Atletico Madrid. 

Events

3 w. ago Liverpool boss Arne Slot set to reunite with Atletico Madrid icon after angry row

Liverpool manager Arne Slot will be reunited with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone in the Champions League, with the two coaches having clashed in the past

Politics