For sure, it is not nice when you have missed a penalty. But fur sure it is disconcerting when it turns into a trend within the range of only two weeks in which during important encounters against Manuel Neuer and Diego Alves you are not able to defeat them. It is not the most pressing problem for Antoine Griezmann, because the Frenchman’s class is exceptional that although his misses from the white spot makes him one of the best, one of the most expensive and desired forwards nowadays. But the most important is that he has the Diego Simeone’s moral support.

Although the introduction of this analysis almost entirely concerns the likeable young French striker, an objective of this coverage will be the role of Diego Simeone in the team from Madrid. Thanks to his infinite devotion to the game, to his leader abilities and to his lack of inhibitions to remodel his side in the tactical aspect, Simeone has managed to create a TEAM that, albeit, not including the most valuable football players in the football world is able to oppose some of the greatest teams in the game.

I will not list all of the trophies which has been conquered by the team managed by Simeone, neither will I recreate a flashback of the way „Atletico“ achieved this success, because it is well-known that the genius explosive, colourful and in the same time entertaining the crowd with his reactions during the game of his team, Argentinian coach is at the foundation of all these glory days for the Spanish side. I am going to try to dissect the influence of Diego Simeone on his players while he is staying alongside the throw line during the matches of his team.

Undoubtedly, his presence as a leader, as a figure that supervises the game of his squad out of the field is impressive. When he displays it, his players experience an internal serenity, an internal confidence and know they have the moral support of their coach even sometimes the match doesn’t suit their tastes.

Diego Simeone is an excellent psychologist who can mentally influence his players both through verbal, as well as non-verbal communcation. There are not many football managers who use this kind of manner of coaching: that are, for example, namely Diego Simeone, Jurgen Klopp, Antonio Conte and why not Jorge Sampaoli. You will say that is quite normal fot the coaches to raise their boys spirit and to encourage them after mistakes or because of off-target shot, but in my humble opinion, the way you express and address your support for your players is of a key importance. A skill which, for sure, occurs in the stock of coaching knowledge of Diego Simeone.

Cholo Simeone also possess another asset that can pay dividends to „Atletico“ ‘s players during some great contests. Namely, the knack for flirting with the home crowd at a moment when his side is on the rise but also when it is in a difficult situation which demands the home fans’s chants of encouragement.

I clearly remember the second leg game from the round of 16 in the previous Champions League’s campaign that opposed „Atletico“ (Madrid) and the Dutch champion „PSV“ at „Vicente Kalderon“. The first leg had ended in 0:0 and to weeks later the result in the return game in Spain was the same. Then the penalties had to decide which team would qualify for the quarter-finals.

What did actually happen then ?

The both sides demonstrated nerves of steel during the first penalties. But when the time of big spin came, the tension among the players of the both teams started prevailing since one mistake meaned you are on 90 per cent out of the competition. What did actually Diego Simeone do? A moment from the game that convincing shows the role of the Argentinian coach during the tense situation for his side. After the both teams had already scored seven penalties no one must make a mistake, because those who misses was under the trouble of knocking out, of course, if the opponent scores following his miss. Luciano Narsingh assumed the responsibility to take the eighth penalty for „PSV“. After the scored seventh penalty by Fernando Torres Simeone realised that this is the perfect moment for his team therefore his help wouldn’t be unneccessary. And while Narsingh was concentraining and waiting for the referee’s signal Simeone worked the home crowd up against the Dutchman. The noise was inconceivable and became the main reason for the Luciano’s broken concentration. His nerves couldn’t stand the strain… And the aftermaths: a miss and Atletico’s qualifying for the quarter-finals.

The instances in which Simeone use this types of techniques for raising the spirit are a lot of really, but they only embody the passion, Simeone’s thirst for victory of the team from the Spanish capital.

I will allow myself to write a few lines which are addressed to the critics of Atletico’s playing style, because very often the way Simeone’s boys play on the field is criticized because of the lack of attractive football at the expense of the more defensive, tougher and uncompromising game against the opponent.

Firstly, let’s answer the question „What is the main aim of the coach in the club he manages?“. The answer is clear: to create a combat-ready team that is able to win, embodying the insight of the game pertaining to its coach. If it is really so, for sure the task is being completed by Atleti in an impressive way. And I also think that it is far-fetched to say that the attractive football is alien to „Atletico“ (Madrid) since there are many cases when Simeone’s side has displayed its counter attacks we had been witnesses to an exemplary conversion from defence into attack accompanied by dynamic one-touch passes and non-standard decision at all. For sure, the imagination in Atletico’s game is not amiss. Ok, „Atletico“ (Madrid) is not „Barcelona“, but Diego Simeone and his players have their own vision that works successfuly. A style that relies on the very strong defence and team which many clubs dream about.