By David Lee Wheatley
Atletico head coach Diego Simeone has garnered a tremendous reputation as a manager during the last two-and-a-half years in charge of the club he once represented as a player.
Following two Argentine championships with Estudiantes and River Plate, the call to take over at his former side came in December 2011 after a short spell at the helm of Italian outfit Catania. Simeone immediately set about the task with relish and led Atleti to a Europa League trophy in his first season back at the Vicente Calderon. A UEFA Super Cup medal was added soon after, but nothing could have prepared the club's vociferous supporters for what treats lay ahead.
Simeone was a hard-tackling central midfielder who played an integral part in the league and domestic cup double of 1996, which was in fact the last occasion that Atletico lifted La Liga. Thanks largely to his unshakeable belief, utter determination and brilliant man-management skills, the ex-Argentine international became the driving force behind an unlikely return to the top of the Spanish game on a tight budget and against all the odds. The 44-year-old has created a remarkable team spirit amongst his squad, while installing a tactical plan that makes his side tremendously tough to break down.
They tend to set-up shop in an old-fashioned 4-4-2 formation, with the physicality of deadly striker Diego Costa absolutely crucial to their ambitions of victory. However, the 25-year-old has been struggling with injury and remains a slight doubt. Simeone will be desperate to include him in his first eleven and it is widely expected that Costa will indeed take his place in the starting line-up.
The extreme reliability of Atletico's back-four has been a feature of their campaign this term, with Simeone able to select a settled defence throughout the season. Juanfran and Luis are effective wing-backs on the right and left respectively, while Godin and the much-improved Miranda have arguably been one of the finest centre-back pairings in Europe. Meanwhile, the tall and agile on-loan keeper Thibaut Courtois has been in sublime form throughout his three-year spell at the club. Real Madrid's wonderful array of attacking talent will certainly have their work cut out to get the better of their disciplined opponents.
Myriad options exist in Atletico's midfield, with Arda Turan seemingly fit after a knock, thus handing Simeone yet another boost. Gabi, Suarez, Sosa, Koke, Diego and Tiago will all be looking to secure a spot from the beginning of the Lisbon final, but only four will make it. I believe Turan and Koke will be on the wings, as the experienced duo Tiago and captain Gabi sit in the centre of the park. Then, either David Villa or, more likely, Raul Garcia will be in the frame to sit off Diego Costa in a deeper position.
It will take another Herculean effort from Simeone's men to claim an historic double after a draining league season that has sapped much of the squad's energy, thus leaving behind a group of players who're a little bruised and battered from their exertions. However, they have claimed a win and a draw during the league campaign against their arch-rivals and, if anyone can motivate the team to lift themselves once more, it is Diego Simeone.
His team will look to sit deep, flood midfield and hit their opponents on the counter-attack at every opportunity. They've proved themselves to be the best side in Spain this season over 38 games, while knocking out European heavyweights such as Chelsea, Barcelona and Milan on their journey to the Champions' League final. Despite Real Madrid shading the betting as slight favourites, it is clearly conceivable to envisage a night which will unfold with the newly-crowned Spanish kings coming away from Lisbon with the spoils yet again.
This glittering season has already exceeded the club's wildest expectations, so why can't the dream continue just a little longer?
Twitter: @davewh1980
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