Dthe titles of League, two Europas Leagues, a Cup at Santiago Bernabeu before him Real Madrid, two European Super Cups and one of Spain are the successes he has achieved Cholo Simeone in the ten years he has been on the bench Athletic. Eight titles that have led the rojiblanco team to be one of the most winning clubs on the continent and have transformed them into something that they had never experienced before on the shores of the Manzanares. After even touching the Second division, the mattress entity changed radically with the Argentine on the bench.
But as often happens in the history of all coaches, there is always a competition or some situations that become the thorns or are placed in the must section in terms of performance. The holding list of Simeone It is endless, but in the debit there is also a line written.
Without a doubt, the main black point for Cholo Simeone in this decade it is in the Champions League. Despite achieving something that had never been achieved before, playing two finals in three years, the truth is that the Athletic brushed to be champion of Europe and he was left with the desire on two occasions. Lisbon and Milan They are two cities that do not bring good memories to the mattress makers.
No one was closer
Far from sinking and crying over missed opportunities Simeone he is ambitious when asked about the top continental competition. “The Champions It is the best thing that can happen to us to show that there is always something to look for. In these ten years it is impossible to be closer to winning a Champions. You play 90 minutes and you can win or lose, we get to 120 and then to penalties. You cannot be closer. The Champions for me it is still an encouragement. Show that in such a long time there are always stimuli ahead to find “, declares the technician to MARK.
The Champions for me continues being a stimulus, we have not been able to be closer “
With the defeats in Lisbon and Milan practically forgotten, the truth is that the second was the one that did the most damage. In fact, it was the one that almost brought about the end of the Simeone Era before its time, but finally the Argentine coach did not make a decision that very few expected.
Failed transfers
Beyond the titles that have not been achieved, Simeone He has also had several disappointments with players who were called to be important in the red-and-white history. For example, he fought for the signing of Nico Gaitan, for which they paid 25 million, and passed without pain or glory through the entity. Simeone he did not get the Argentine media to perform at an acceptable level. Almost worse were the cases of Mandzukic and Jackson Martínez. The Athletic disbursed 35 million for the Colombian, who was not even a full season at the club, while the Croatian arrived as one of the most decisive points on the continent and was never understood as Simeone.
Thus, without it being an obsession, the truth is that Simeone He still thinks that his team can get the biggest continental title. He has already been able to win in stadiums like the Allianz, Stamford Bridge or San Siro and nobody will be able to remove the illusion of dreaming about something that they almost touched with their hands.
