06-13-2014, 01:20 AM
For a team with a relatively small squad and a wage bill comparable to Fulham's, overcoming the renowned superstars and almighty financial power of Barcelona and Real Madrid required an almost superhuman effort. That was especially the case when Atletico entered the final 45 minutes of their league campaign trailing 1-0 against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in a game they needed to draw, deprived of the services of arguably their two most important attacking players, Diego Costa and Arda Turan, through injury.
BBC Sport - Atletico Madrid: Specialists in triumphing in the face of adversity
Has a manager ever had such an immediate and profound impact? When Simeone took over two days before Christmas 2011, Atlético were 10th and had just been defeated by Second Division B side Albacete in the Copa del Rey. They were "sunk", the captain says. These are the same players. His character has transformed them; as has his work. They finished fifth and won the Europa League, following that up with a European Super Cup demolition of Chelsea. Then they reached the Champions League places and won the Copa del Rey. Now they have won an impossible league and have reached the European Cup final. They have won more than their city rivals in that time; more than Barcelona too.
Cantona says “all the best players” grew up in poor areas, name-checking Maradona, Pelé, Messi, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. For him, football is 50% physical and 50% psychological. “You need to be angry, because it is not only about abilities. Abilities is 50% and 50% is mentally. And mentally is where you learn how to fight … it is in the street.” For him a broken link between the street and the stadium should be of urgent concern to Fifa