Moments earlier, Thibaut Courtois had made a stunning save to keep the score level at 1-1. At the other end, after dusting himself down in front of the Matthew Harding Stand, Diego Costa began his run up and placed a masterful spot kick high into the roof of the net; this was the moment Chelsea fans began to see the future.
Courtois and Costa were playing at Stamford Bridge in April 2014, but for Spanish side Atlético Madrid. As Arda Turan added a third and decisive goal, it triggered a managerial charge down the touchline from Diego Simeone. It was eerily reminiscent of a youthful José Mourinho at Old Trafford in 2004, except this time, the stony faced man standing motionless in the dugout wasn’t Sir Alex Ferguson, but Mourinho himself.
That Champions League semi-final display at Stamford Bridge from Simeone’s team was a tactical masterclass in counter-attack play. A stout, well-drilled defence has become a hallmark of ‘Cholo’s’ Atlético, as has the tight midfield and direct forward line.
As a style favoured by Mourinho, this is why this fixture still stands out today as a reference point when comparing the two managers’ respective merits.
Mourinho was wary of this counter attacking threat and set his team up accordingly. Yet far from being defensive, Atlético were organised and closed down spaces, restricting Chelsea’s wide players, Eden Hazard and Willian, to having to play back and across in order to find pockets of room in which to play and create. In contrast, Atleti played with now trademark verve and purpose.
In terms of outward personas the two seem to be similar in approach. Both demand 100% efforts in training and in match preparation and as well as a ‘never-say-die’ commitment to the team and the cause. That Mourinho’s Chelsea should be outplayed by Simeone’s Atlético by using essentially the same tactical philosophy was impressive and drew a line in the sand.
In Spain, the way that Atlético Madrid won the league title in 2014 was testament to the commitment and character of Simeone’s team. Travelling to the Nou Camp on the last day of the season, they needed a draw to secure the title. Despite going a goal down to Barcelona, Diego Godín scored a headed equaliser that won La Liga for Atleti; their first championship since Simeone was a player in 1996.
These attributes of work-rate, leadership, intelligence, stamina and perseverance define Simeone and his team. The same set of adjectives could also be used to describe Chelsea’s playing style from 2004-2015. Up until this season, Chelsea have been known for their battling qualities and strengths of commitment and togetherness.
The desire of owner Roman Abramovich to build a brand of football akin to that of Pep Guardiola and Barcelona is clear, but Chelsea’s inability to attract the Catalan to Stamford Bridge almost says more about the way the club is perceived than the potential project at hand.
For all the attempts by Chelsea to build a squad to tempt Guardiola over the past few years — signing Juan Mata, Oscar, David Luiz, Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Courtois, Pedro — the fact that the club abandoned those policies (and some of those players) when rehiring Mourinho in 2013 still gives the message that they are more committed to the shorter term objectives of winning trophies than building with a long-term vision. This was confirmed with Mourinho’s sacking on 17 December 2015 less than eight months after winning the Premier League trophy.
Simeone, for his part, has found his spiritual home with Atleti. When he bcame their manager in December 2011, he had previously held six managerial posts in six years without sustained success. His two trophies came in the shape of two Argentine Primera titles with Estudiantes and River Plate in 2006 and 2008, only lasting a few months in each job.
The transformation of Atlético under his stewardship has been immense. They have gone from being a team aiming to compete for Champions League places in La Liga to being championship winners and the thorn in the side for city rivals, Real Madrid. Last week, Atleti became the first team in history to win three consecutive La Liga games at the Bernabeu.
If Chelsea can tempt Simeone away from Madrid to London, it will be a great achievement. He feels at home with Atlético, he feels he is with his people. Some may worry that his brand of management may be too similar to that of Mourinho and would argue that a steady hand on the tiller, someone of the ilk of Guus Hiddink, may be what Chelsea need to stabilise the club and the players.
He has a record of success in Spain. He is a natural leader, with an unbridled desire to win. His brand of football is quick and high tempo. The ball is continually moving, and the players burst into life when springing counter attacks. They use the width of the pitch with full back Filipe Luis given licence to roam forward and create an outlet. They adjust their tactical plans to suit the opponent and you will never fault an Atlético Madrid team for not putting in the required work-rate and effort.
As shown in April 2014, Simeone has built Atlético in his image, which has more than a passing resemblance to the great Chelsea teams of Mourinho. It shouldn’t be time to worry about whether his arrival would be moving backwards to replace Mourinho’s Chelsea, but view it more as an opportunity to upgrade to Simeone’s Chelsea 2.0.
