The next step of the ‘match to match’ of Simeone

Even in the press area of ​​the Metropolitan, the chants of the fans that celebrated with the roster of Atlético de Madrid resonated the victory set against Liverpool, the current champion of the Champions League. A meritorious triumph, but far from definitive. Those of Simeone have an advantage in the face of the round of 16, but expects Anfield, a true torture colt. But the 'Cholo' does not give up, nor with those, his 'match to match'.

Atlético's situation is similar to that of the last year in the Champions League: in the round of 16, with an unexpected result in favor and a pending visit to a stadium that will be very complicated. In 2019 it was Juventus, with a 2-0 in favor. The result is well known by Simeone and the rest of his squad: a 3-0 in one of the worst nights of the Argentine era in the rojiblanca entity.

The coach, however, prefers to focus on the present. This 'now' is Villarreal, it is LaLiga. “We do not stop to think so far. Surely when the date of the game approaches,” said Simeone, who was asked up to three times about the difficulty that can (and should, in theory) entail Anfield's particular hell.

“It is clear that it is difficult to win as a visitor, the teams at home become stronger, they have that point more. What will happen when we have to play in England? There is a lot left and we are absolutely occupied by the League,” insisted the 'Cholo', which has before it a whole challenge to try to avoid repeating the history of Juventus Stadium, a KO before a giant with a soulless version of his own. A disappointment not only for the elimination, but also for the way of falling, in the antipodes of the technician's ideology.

The antidote for this could be in the deployment of the night in the Metropolitan, a day that goes directly to the memories of the Argentine coach in the rojiblanco team: “There are nights that are not forgotten. The best team in the world came. You did not pass, but you couldn't beat him because we all have a match. “

These options go through the intensity demonstrated throughout the match, for a defense that did not touch passivity and that strangled a Liverpool that, without spaces, feels more uncomfortable.

Apart from the planning expected by Atlético, Liverpool promises an answer. Klopp repeatedly told a press conference: “They will have to play in Anfield”, “Welcome to Anfield, we will tell you” or “90 minutes left in Anfield” were some of the German's messages. Liverpool warns and Atlético must learn the lesson after the damage suffered in Turin. But, until the date arrives, Simeone's 'match to match' imposes a return to normal.