BY UDI GODWIN
Same team, same agony, same result, albeit ending at shootouts this time around, football must be a very cruel game at times.
This was meant to be their time, a team breaming with unbelievable confidence, experience, and a great mix of youthful exuberance and old heads. Atletico coach Diego Simeone prior to the game spoke about the chance of a “new opportunity”. An opportunity to write their names in history, an opportunity to put a smile on the faces of their fans, and an opportunity to inflict their bitter rival and neighbor Real Madrid with the taste of what they experience the last time around.
History was firmly on their side, recent history has shown that a team who envisaged a new opportunity always comes out top. Same fate played out for Chelsea, who lost out to Manchester United in Moscow in 2008, but later came out top four years later in Munich against Bayern on their own turf. Bayern also had a reprove in a year later, beating Dortmund 2-1 to clinch the most coveted trophy in Europe.
Psychologically, the pressure was on Atletico to perform. Bookers favorite Real Madrid had less pressure, haven won an unprecedented 10th title (la decima) the last time they met. This eventually played out, with Madrid led by the pint-sized midfelder luka modric effectively bossing possession, pinning Atletico to their “wall”, by their fluid passing. Atletico success which had been built on their resilient defending, was brushed by Sergio Ramos’ slight touch from Gareth Bale’s header on the 15th minute mark. From there on, with always going to be an uphill task for the men on red and white stripes.
Real Madrid coach and legend, Zinedine Zidane had instilled a great sense of defending since his appointment, and his team didn’t disappoint. Atletico resurgent striker Fernando Torres was lost throughout the contest, with striking partner Antoine Griezmann limited to only shooting from range.
Griezmann spurned the chance of leveling the tie at the beginning of the second half, blasting the ball to the frame of the bar from the penalty spot. However, Yannick Carrasco brought on immediately at the beginning of the second half by Simeone, to inject much needed pace and purposefulness from the wing duly delivered. Scoring in the 79th minute of the game to break the heart of the men on all white stripes and their fans at the San Siro.
At this point, it seems like a fairytale ending was on the plate, but both sides eventually went out of gas, and rather settled for penalty.
The penalty shoot-out as a game of lottery, Atletico defender Juanfran was the unfortunate casualty. Shooting his ball to the foot of the left post, after choosing to place the ball in the same spot as his three teammates who played before him. Mother luck was smiling on Real Madrid who did likewise, albeit placing all penalties, including the winner at the opposite right hand side of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak’s net.
The question now is; where do Simeone and his well-drilled machines go from here? Losing two Champions League is too difficult to take. Little wonder, Simeone told his players not to weep in the open after the game. But the fact remains that their commitment and passion for the game will not only be an example to other team’s with little budget, but will definitely pay dividends if they manage to keep this current group of players.
Indeed, this summer will be a very long one for the club, with stars such as Griezmann, Saul Niguez, Carrasco, Koke, and even their Coach Diego Simeone, highly coveted because of their impressive showing by other richer clubs around Europe.
Simeone might tell them not to show their frustration in public, but this will always feel like a missed opportunity in the heart of the coach, players, and the fan’s.
