Football, as we know, is often all about fine margins. Just ask Atletico Madrid. Whilst no-one can possibly condone the ridiculous behaviour of their otherwise admirable coach Diego Simeone when he lost his cool as victory slipped agonisingly away in Lisbon’s Stadium of Light last weekend, let’s not underestimate what the Spanish capital’s so-called poorer sister achieved over the season as a whole.
Real Madrid finally collected their 10th European crown after 12 years of pain – and deservedly so. But as footballing Cinderella stories go, they don’t come much more poignant in terms of Atletico striking a blow in La Liga’s Primera, and so nearly again in Europe’s most prized competition, for everyone who believes teams shouldn’t just win titles based on superior financial muscle.
As one half of the stadium celebrated Champions League glory on Saturday with almost lung-busting relief and the other half rued not only the manner of defeat but the fact they may never get another chance, the person with whom I watched the game turned to me and declared, “proper team, Atletico, proper fans.”
This was not to deride their opponent’s history or stature but to make the point that here was a team without superstars and without a bottomless pit of success-chasing funds. Here was a side built on team spirit and indefatigable endeavour, qualities which, on their own, are not supposed to beat Real and Barcelona to the Spanish title and are not supposed to get within two minutes of picking up Europe’s most prestigious club trophy.
In other words, here was a side bucking a familiar and predictable trend. The exception to the rule, if you like.
By all accounts Carlo Ancelotti is a charming and honourable man as well as a highly knowledgeable coach. I have never understood why Chelsea sacked the experienced Italian with such haste and am pleased for Ancelotti that he became the coach who, after Real’s several near-misses, finally managed to steer the all-whites over the line and succeed where Chelsea failed under the second coming of Jose Mourinho.
But a part of me felt desperately sorry for the losers. Don’t get me wrong. Everyone is aware of the litany of financial disasters Atletico have suffered off the field, almost bringing them to their knees. Their recent history is one of heavy debt, unpaid taxes and late wages, forcing the club to sell many of their top players and hardly the kind of shining example UEFA is keen to portray.
But by the same token Atletico – whilst hardly operating on a shoestring budget – are surely also an example of a side turning in a profit from their transfer business as distinct from cynically being prepared to make a loss by spending their way to the top of the European tree, and trying to stay there. No prizes for guessing which clubs I am referring to.
As I say, no-one is suggesting for one moment Atletico’s situation is how a club should be run off the pitch. Far from it. But in an age where riches and glory are inextricably linked, there will be clubs out there asking themselves, ‘if they can have a season like this on the field, why can’t we in the future?’
To put things in perspective, in their quest for the Holy Grail, Real have spent lavish sums on big-name signings, especially since the return of Florentino Perez as president five years ago. Their current squad is worth over €500 million including the world’s two most expensive footballers: Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. Contrast that with Atletico who assembled a squad with a collective value of €80 million.
In other words less than a sixth of Real’s total outlay, with Arda Turan and Raul Garcia the most expensive signings at €13 million apiece, closely followed by Filipe Luis, bought from Deportivo La Coruna for €12 million four years ago and now worth probably three times that amount. Most shrewdly of all, Diego Costa, Atletico’s prolific marksman who in hindsight should probably not have started in Lisbon having been able to last a mere 10 minutes, cost around €2 million. He could shortly be on his way for 15 times that amount.
According to Spanish reports, Simeone once quipped: “What’s the difference between Real Madrid and Atletico? About €400 million.” He was apparently referring to the respective annual incomes of the two clubs rather than the current collective transfer values but he could have been talking about either.
Of course, Simeone – for all his unforgiveable stoppage-time antics in Lisbon – is largely responsible for Atletico’s rollercoaster season. But so are his no longer under-rated players whose style may not be to everyone’s liking but, to coin an oft-used footballing cliché, would apparently run through brick walls for the boss.
Unlike Real, who will have many more chances, this could end up being Atletico’s one big shot at the top prizes at home and abroad, especially if Simeone is snapped up elsewhere and Diego Costa completes his expected move to Chelsea. Selling your best players is an inevitability of the modern game except for the elite few.
In an era when football’s authorities are swimming against the tide as far as the top teams developing talent is concerned as a result of the relentless pressure for instant success, by getting within a kick of securing a unique double, Atletico proved that unlimited resources are not the only way of getting the job done. So hats off to Saturday’s losers, unlucky or not.
Andrew Warshaw was formerly Sports Editor of the The European newspaper and is chief correspondent of Insideworldfootball. Contact Andrew at moc.l1734807268labto1734807268ofdlr1734807268owdis1734807268ni@wa1734807268hsraw1734807268.werd1734807268na1734807268