This season's Champions League has now begun, and one of the standout fixtures of its first matchday was the match between Atlético Madrid and Juventus. Juve opened up a two-goal lead over the Madrid club through goals scored by Juan Cuadrado and Blaise Matuidi, but Stefan Savić pulled one back for Atlético before Héctor Herrera's stoppage-time equaliser ensured that Atlético would complete the comeback and finish with a well-earned draw.
This match epitomized what Atlético have been all about for the last decade. This is a team that simply refuses to accept defeat and who have overcome so many tremendous challenges that would have broken almost any other club. Over this period, Atlético have seen superstars such as Diego Forlán, Sergio Agüero, Radamel Falcao, Thibaut Courtois, and most recently Antoine Griezmann leave the Vicente Calderón (or in Griezmann's case, the Wanda Metropolitano). They have also operated with a significantly lower budget than those of fellow La Liga powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona, not to mention those of other Champions League title contenders such as Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, among others.
Yet, despite these setbacks and disadvantages, Atlético have been perennial contenders both domestically and in the Champions League alike. But just how have they done it?
One key element of Atlético's success has been player scouting and development.
When Atlético signed Jan Oblak in 2014, he had never played a league game in a major league at the time. He had also been loaned out four times, each time to a relatively minor Portuguese club. Five years on, the Slovenian is definitely among the five best, and arguably the three best, goalkeepers in the world.
Oblak's predecessor Courtois was signed on a three-year loan deal from Chelsea, for whom he never played a league game until his return from his stint in the Spanish capital. Atlético, of course, turned a benchwarmer into the best goalkeeper on the planet.
It's not just goalkeepers. During his time at Real Sociedad, Griezmann was seen as an exciting young prospect, but very few foresaw him reaching the heights which he eventually did. However, Atlético recognized how great he would someday become. Not only did they sign him when no other club was chasing his services, but they also managed to develop his talent to a point which resulted in his becoming a genuine Ballon d'Or contender.
It also helps that Atlético have perhaps the best head coach on the planet in the dugout.
Year in and year out, Diego Simeone has led Atlético to overachievement relative to the amount of money they have at their disposal. They have emerged as one of world football's leading teams not through star power, not through money, and not even through a historic past. Simeone has helped Atlético do it through grit, willpower, character, strategy, and intelligence. The tactical brilliance of "El Cholo" has been evident over his eight years in charge of Atlético and was never more obvious than in the 2013-14 season, when Atlético stunned Barcelona and Real Madrid to win La Liga, then came so close to winning their first Champions League title before being denied at the death by city rivals Real.
Atlético's signings have also been astute and well-planned. Unlike some other clubs which just sign the splashiest names for the most expensive prices without considering how they fit into the team, Atlético's front office clearly puts much thought into their signings. Signings over recent years such as Rodri, Savić, Kieran Trippier, and even more expensive ones such as Thomas Lemar were all made with how they would contribute to the team and its general strategy in mind.
I'll just go ahead and say it: Atlético Madrid are the best-run football club in the world. No other club has its combination of coaching, player development, team chemistry, transfer market savvy, scouting, and financial management while also performing at a world-class level and being constant contenders to win the Champions League. If European football were like the NFL or NBA and had a salary cap, I firmly believe that Atlético would have won between three and six of the last 10 Champions Leagues.
If any team ever deserved a Champions League title, it has to be Atlético Madrid.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Monday, September 16, 2019
The Weekly Take, Issue 80: How to Ruin a Season Before It Even Begins
Although the new La Liga season has just started, one of the teams which had been expected to have been contending for a Champions League spot have already ruined their season. They have made a grievous error which will all but ensure that they will fail to qualify for next season's Champions League.
This club is Valencia.
Last week, Los Che fired then-head coach Marcelino and replaced him with Albert Celades - a shocking decision which none could possibly have seen coming. This was especially surprising because the Asturian had been at the helm during a period which saw the club experience an impressive return to form. Marcelino coached Valencia to a Copa del Rey title and back-to-back fourth-place finishes in La Liga. This was a major improvement over the two seasons before Marcelino took over; in both of those seasons, Valencia finished 12th in the league.
Valencia have now become a club in disarray, and this was clearly exhibited in their recent La Liga match against Barcelona. They were completely taken apart by the Blaugrana in a crushing 5-2 loss. They seemed to enter the match with no cohesion, no plan, and no chemistry; these problems can all be attributed to the sudden coaching change. Even players who were usually known to be solid and consistent such as Gonçalo Guedes, José Gayà, and Dani Parejo appeared to be shell-shocked by the sudden turn of events, as they were completely overwhelmed by Barça in every conceivable manner.
The firing of Marcelino made absolutely no sense at all. He had led Valencia to their most successful span in many years. The back-to-back top-four finishes had not been accomplished by Valencia since 2012. Their Copa del Rey title was their first trophy since 2008, when they won the same title. They also made the semifinals of the Europa League with Marcelino at the helm; something they had not done since 2014.
Yet somehow, despite all this success and a team which boasted a cluster of above-average players to make up for a lack of a true star, owner Peter Lim was dissatisfied with the job that Marcelino had done and unceremoniously fired him.
This is a decision which will go on to haunt Valencia. Marcelino had proven his quality as a coach, a fact that was emphasized by his winning of La Liga's Coach of the Year award for the 2017-18 season. Their performance against Barcelona clearly showed that his firing has already had a major negative impact on their league campaign.
Marcelino's firing also has implications towards Valencia's Champions League campaign. Valencia had been placed in Group H which also contains Chelsea, Ajax, and Lille. It is by far the least threatening group of all eight groups - prior to the events that have recently transpired, one would have expected Valencia to have topped that group fairly easily. However, such is no longer the case. Not only will they probably not top the group, it is now in fact looking likely that Valencia will finish bottom of the group and even miss the drop-down into the Europa League which is granted to third-placed teams.
If, as expected, Valencia do poorly in the league and Champions League this season, it could set a domino effect into motion. Player such as Guedes, Gayà, Kevin Gameiro, and Rodrigo, among others, might end up attempting to make their way out of the Mestalla.
There are times when a change of coach is sorely needed. At those times, a new person is needed at the helm to freshen things up and revive the club's flagging fortunes. Valencia, on the other hand, chose the worst possible time to fire Marcelino. There was absolutely no reason to fire him and replace him with the inexperienced Celades, who has never been a head coach of any club before. Already, it appears to have been a calamitous decision that will severely handicap Valencia throughout the current season. It will take a miracle for Valencia to again make the top four.
One would certainly assume that before too long, Marcelino will find himself in the dugout again, but with a different club. All of Valencia's and Marcelino's good work over the last two years might just have been undone.
This club is Valencia.
Last week, Los Che fired then-head coach Marcelino and replaced him with Albert Celades - a shocking decision which none could possibly have seen coming. This was especially surprising because the Asturian had been at the helm during a period which saw the club experience an impressive return to form. Marcelino coached Valencia to a Copa del Rey title and back-to-back fourth-place finishes in La Liga. This was a major improvement over the two seasons before Marcelino took over; in both of those seasons, Valencia finished 12th in the league.
Valencia have now become a club in disarray, and this was clearly exhibited in their recent La Liga match against Barcelona. They were completely taken apart by the Blaugrana in a crushing 5-2 loss. They seemed to enter the match with no cohesion, no plan, and no chemistry; these problems can all be attributed to the sudden coaching change. Even players who were usually known to be solid and consistent such as Gonçalo Guedes, José Gayà, and Dani Parejo appeared to be shell-shocked by the sudden turn of events, as they were completely overwhelmed by Barça in every conceivable manner.
The firing of Marcelino made absolutely no sense at all. He had led Valencia to their most successful span in many years. The back-to-back top-four finishes had not been accomplished by Valencia since 2012. Their Copa del Rey title was their first trophy since 2008, when they won the same title. They also made the semifinals of the Europa League with Marcelino at the helm; something they had not done since 2014.
Yet somehow, despite all this success and a team which boasted a cluster of above-average players to make up for a lack of a true star, owner Peter Lim was dissatisfied with the job that Marcelino had done and unceremoniously fired him.
This is a decision which will go on to haunt Valencia. Marcelino had proven his quality as a coach, a fact that was emphasized by his winning of La Liga's Coach of the Year award for the 2017-18 season. Their performance against Barcelona clearly showed that his firing has already had a major negative impact on their league campaign.
Marcelino's firing also has implications towards Valencia's Champions League campaign. Valencia had been placed in Group H which also contains Chelsea, Ajax, and Lille. It is by far the least threatening group of all eight groups - prior to the events that have recently transpired, one would have expected Valencia to have topped that group fairly easily. However, such is no longer the case. Not only will they probably not top the group, it is now in fact looking likely that Valencia will finish bottom of the group and even miss the drop-down into the Europa League which is granted to third-placed teams.
If, as expected, Valencia do poorly in the league and Champions League this season, it could set a domino effect into motion. Player such as Guedes, Gayà, Kevin Gameiro, and Rodrigo, among others, might end up attempting to make their way out of the Mestalla.
There are times when a change of coach is sorely needed. At those times, a new person is needed at the helm to freshen things up and revive the club's flagging fortunes. Valencia, on the other hand, chose the worst possible time to fire Marcelino. There was absolutely no reason to fire him and replace him with the inexperienced Celades, who has never been a head coach of any club before. Already, it appears to have been a calamitous decision that will severely handicap Valencia throughout the current season. It will take a miracle for Valencia to again make the top four.
One would certainly assume that before too long, Marcelino will find himself in the dugout again, but with a different club. All of Valencia's and Marcelino's good work over the last two years might just have been undone.
Sunday, September 8, 2019
The Weekly Take, Issue 79: An Under-the-Radar Contender
Euro 2020 is almost a year away and the 2022 World Cup is almost three years from taking place. Even so, despite the fact that these tournaments are some way from beginning, the leading contenders are all attempting to position themselves to increase their title chances by as much as possible.
However, one of the teams which happens to be a genuine contender to win both has gone under everyone's radar. This team is stacked at almost every position and is loaded with immense talent and skill, but is somehow being slept on by far too many people. It is also a team which actually failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
This team is the Netherlands.
In the latest instalment of one of the most iconic rivalries in international football, the Netherlands beat Germany 4-2 in a Euro 2020 qualifying match. Goals scored by Georginio Wijnaldum, Frenkie de Jong, and Donyell Malen as well as a Jonathan Tah own goal helped the Oranje claim the victory over their eastern neighbours and arch-rivals.
Ever since the beginning of last season's Nations League, the Netherlands have been in fine form. In that tournament, they made it to the final, only to lose to Portugal. On their way to the final, the Dutch topped a brutal group which included France and Germany. Now, in qualifying for Euro 2020, they are well-positioned to advance to the tournament itself.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Netherlands. However, the emergence of many players as well as the career revivals of players who had once been overlooked or written off.
When looking at this Dutch team, one of the first things which draws attention is their remarkable defense. Of course, the foundation of this defense, best player on the team, and arguably the best player on the planet is Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands captain's outstanding play at the back has been one of the primary reasons for the team's upturn in fortunes. Supporting van Dijk in the defensive line are Stefan de Vrij, Daley Blind, and Matthijs de Ligt. In particular, the 20-year-old de Ligt has an incredibly bright future; it may even be the case that the two best centre-backs in the world both happen to be from the Netherlands.
The standout in midfield is definitely Frenkie de Jong. Barcelona's new signing lit up the Champions League last season during Ajax's underdog run to the semifinals. At just 22, de Jong has virtually the complete package for a central midfielder - a gifted passer, careful with the ball, an unforgiving but clean tackler; you name it, it applies to de Jong. The rest of the Dutch midfield is somewhat underrated as well - Marten de Roon, Davy Pröpper, Quincy Promes, and Donny van de Beek often do not receive as much of the spotlight as they likely deserve, as they have all made marked improvements over the last one to two years.
Up front, the two starters for the Netherlands are two players who have completely reversed their prior career narratives in Memphis Depay and Ryan Babel. When Depay signed for Manchester United from PSV in 2015, he was regarded as one of the most exciting rising stars in world football. Unfortunately, it never quite clicked for Depay at Old Trafford, and after one-and-a-half years, he signed for Lyon. However, ever since arriving at the Groupama Stadium, Depay has put his career back on track, re-emerging as a key part of both the Lyon and Netherlands teams alike.
Babel's story is even more remarkable. A 14-year veteran of the Dutch national team, Babel played his first game for the Oranje in six years in 2017. Although regarded as washed-up at the time, Babel only ended up going from strength to strength - in fact, of the 10 goals which he has scored over his international career, half of them have come during the last two years in what has been a remarkable late-career revival.
This Dutch team is clearly more than the sum of its parts. If everything continues in the way that has been shown over the last year or so, the Netherlands will be going places.
Perhaps that long sought-after first World Cup title might be coming sooner that one might think.
However, one of the teams which happens to be a genuine contender to win both has gone under everyone's radar. This team is stacked at almost every position and is loaded with immense talent and skill, but is somehow being slept on by far too many people. It is also a team which actually failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
This team is the Netherlands.
In the latest instalment of one of the most iconic rivalries in international football, the Netherlands beat Germany 4-2 in a Euro 2020 qualifying match. Goals scored by Georginio Wijnaldum, Frenkie de Jong, and Donyell Malen as well as a Jonathan Tah own goal helped the Oranje claim the victory over their eastern neighbours and arch-rivals.
Ever since the beginning of last season's Nations League, the Netherlands have been in fine form. In that tournament, they made it to the final, only to lose to Portugal. On their way to the final, the Dutch topped a brutal group which included France and Germany. Now, in qualifying for Euro 2020, they are well-positioned to advance to the tournament itself.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Netherlands. However, the emergence of many players as well as the career revivals of players who had once been overlooked or written off.
When looking at this Dutch team, one of the first things which draws attention is their remarkable defense. Of course, the foundation of this defense, best player on the team, and arguably the best player on the planet is Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands captain's outstanding play at the back has been one of the primary reasons for the team's upturn in fortunes. Supporting van Dijk in the defensive line are Stefan de Vrij, Daley Blind, and Matthijs de Ligt. In particular, the 20-year-old de Ligt has an incredibly bright future; it may even be the case that the two best centre-backs in the world both happen to be from the Netherlands.
The standout in midfield is definitely Frenkie de Jong. Barcelona's new signing lit up the Champions League last season during Ajax's underdog run to the semifinals. At just 22, de Jong has virtually the complete package for a central midfielder - a gifted passer, careful with the ball, an unforgiving but clean tackler; you name it, it applies to de Jong. The rest of the Dutch midfield is somewhat underrated as well - Marten de Roon, Davy Pröpper, Quincy Promes, and Donny van de Beek often do not receive as much of the spotlight as they likely deserve, as they have all made marked improvements over the last one to two years.
Up front, the two starters for the Netherlands are two players who have completely reversed their prior career narratives in Memphis Depay and Ryan Babel. When Depay signed for Manchester United from PSV in 2015, he was regarded as one of the most exciting rising stars in world football. Unfortunately, it never quite clicked for Depay at Old Trafford, and after one-and-a-half years, he signed for Lyon. However, ever since arriving at the Groupama Stadium, Depay has put his career back on track, re-emerging as a key part of both the Lyon and Netherlands teams alike.
Babel's story is even more remarkable. A 14-year veteran of the Dutch national team, Babel played his first game for the Oranje in six years in 2017. Although regarded as washed-up at the time, Babel only ended up going from strength to strength - in fact, of the 10 goals which he has scored over his international career, half of them have come during the last two years in what has been a remarkable late-career revival.
This Dutch team is clearly more than the sum of its parts. If everything continues in the way that has been shown over the last year or so, the Netherlands will be going places.
Perhaps that long sought-after first World Cup title might be coming sooner that one might think.
Monday, September 2, 2019
The Weekly Take, Issue 78: No, Not That Net
The standout match of Serie A's second matchday of the season was the clash between Juventus and Napoli. Not only did both clubs already have a fierce rivalry, but Juve have also been the reigning league champions since 2012, while Napoli have finished second to Juve in three of the last four seasons; they were third in the other. Furthermore, what was already one of the most heated rivalries in European football recently had extra spice added to it. This past off-season, Maurizio Sarri became the head coach of Juventus; he had coached Napoli from 2015 to 2018. Similarly, Napoli's legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti had been in charge of Juve from 1999 to 2001.
The match lived up to the hype and then some. Juve scored the first three goals of the match; it looked as though the Bianconeri were on the path to an easy victory. However, Napoli mounted an astonishing comeback. The Campania-based club scored three goals in 15 minutes to tie it at 3-3. Unfortunately for Napoli, all their effort would come to naught when centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly scored a stoppage-time own goal to win it for Juve. The Senegalese centre-back connected with Juve striker Paulo Dybala's free kick in just the right way to put the ball past Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret and clinch the victory for Juve.
Obviously, no player ever wants to score an own goal. They are moments which not only provide a free goal to the opposing team, but will be replayed on blooper reels for months and sometimes even years to come. They also bring about the roasting of the own goal's scorer on social media.
However, it cannot be denied that some own goals are much more consequential than others. Koulibaly's own goal might just have been one because Juve and Napoli are both expected to be among the contenders to win the league title this season. Should Juve go on to win the league by finishing three points or fewer ahead of Napoli (which is a distinct possibility), Koulibaly's own goal would rightly be described as the own goal that won Juve the Serie A title.
Another own goal which had dire consequences for the team of the scorer was that of Fernandinho, who was playing for Brazil against Belgium in the quarterfinals of 2018 World Cup. The Manchester City midfielder stretched out to intercept a Nacer Chadli corner, but was only able to redirect the ball into the back of his own net. The Seleção went on to lose 2-1, meaning that had Fernandinho not scored that own goal, the match would have gone to extra time, in which Brazil may have possibly gone on to win and advance to the semifinals.
Of course, the most tragic own goal ever scored took place 24 years prior to that. It was also scored during a World Cup.
During the 1994 World Cup, Andrés Escobar's own goal scored while playing for Colombia against the United States ended up knocking Los Cafeteros out of the global showpiece. A few days later, Escobar paid the ultimate price when he was murdered in his hometown of Medellín. The murder was thought to be a direct retaliation for the own goal.
On a less sombre note, there was even an own goal which directly caused a team's relegation - the one scored by Pavel Krmaš which relegated Freiburg in 2015. With the score against Hanover tied at 1-1, Krmaš's botched clearance ended with the ball in the back of his team's net. Just to make it even worse for the Czech centre-back, he did this in his last game for Freiburg after eight years at the club from southwestern Germany. Furthermore, the own goal not only relegated Freiburg, but also kept Hanover in the Bundesliga.
Own goals are events that can happen in any football match at any time. They have been scored by everyone from the last man off the bench to legitimate Ballon d'Or candidates. However, regardless of the identity of the player who scored the own goal, what is important for the player in such a situation is having the ability and mental strength to put the mishap behind him and bounce back.
The match lived up to the hype and then some. Juve scored the first three goals of the match; it looked as though the Bianconeri were on the path to an easy victory. However, Napoli mounted an astonishing comeback. The Campania-based club scored three goals in 15 minutes to tie it at 3-3. Unfortunately for Napoli, all their effort would come to naught when centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly scored a stoppage-time own goal to win it for Juve. The Senegalese centre-back connected with Juve striker Paulo Dybala's free kick in just the right way to put the ball past Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret and clinch the victory for Juve.
Obviously, no player ever wants to score an own goal. They are moments which not only provide a free goal to the opposing team, but will be replayed on blooper reels for months and sometimes even years to come. They also bring about the roasting of the own goal's scorer on social media.
However, it cannot be denied that some own goals are much more consequential than others. Koulibaly's own goal might just have been one because Juve and Napoli are both expected to be among the contenders to win the league title this season. Should Juve go on to win the league by finishing three points or fewer ahead of Napoli (which is a distinct possibility), Koulibaly's own goal would rightly be described as the own goal that won Juve the Serie A title.
Another own goal which had dire consequences for the team of the scorer was that of Fernandinho, who was playing for Brazil against Belgium in the quarterfinals of 2018 World Cup. The Manchester City midfielder stretched out to intercept a Nacer Chadli corner, but was only able to redirect the ball into the back of his own net. The Seleção went on to lose 2-1, meaning that had Fernandinho not scored that own goal, the match would have gone to extra time, in which Brazil may have possibly gone on to win and advance to the semifinals.
Of course, the most tragic own goal ever scored took place 24 years prior to that. It was also scored during a World Cup.
During the 1994 World Cup, Andrés Escobar's own goal scored while playing for Colombia against the United States ended up knocking Los Cafeteros out of the global showpiece. A few days later, Escobar paid the ultimate price when he was murdered in his hometown of Medellín. The murder was thought to be a direct retaliation for the own goal.
On a less sombre note, there was even an own goal which directly caused a team's relegation - the one scored by Pavel Krmaš which relegated Freiburg in 2015. With the score against Hanover tied at 1-1, Krmaš's botched clearance ended with the ball in the back of his team's net. Just to make it even worse for the Czech centre-back, he did this in his last game for Freiburg after eight years at the club from southwestern Germany. Furthermore, the own goal not only relegated Freiburg, but also kept Hanover in the Bundesliga.
Own goals are events that can happen in any football match at any time. They have been scored by everyone from the last man off the bench to legitimate Ballon d'Or candidates. However, regardless of the identity of the player who scored the own goal, what is important for the player in such a situation is having the ability and mental strength to put the mishap behind him and bounce back.
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