Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid split opinion on social media, after the Spanish side set up in a 5-5-0 against Manchester City in the Champions League.
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Having beaten Manchester United in the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition, Atletico were back in the north west of England on Tuesday night to take on City in the quarter final first leg.
Whilst United didn't offer much going forward, Atleti's previous win was built around their staunch defence but it was going to have to be much stauncher against Pep Guardiola's team.
City are well known for their attacking prowess, and the biggest struggle for the side from the Spanish capital was keeping the score as close to level as possible to keep themselves in the tie before next week's return to the Wanda Metropolitano.
Fans on social media noticed that Simeone had set up his side with no one upfront and two banks of five, in order to nullify their opponents own tactics.
O 5-5-0 de Diego "Cholo" Simeone no Etihad Stadium. pic.twitter.com/iiTq6vYkjI
— Higor Santos (@HigorSantos_10) April 5, 2022
Diego Simeone's tactics.😂 pic.twitter.com/945QLzATJs
— iam_olarid (@TowerDrills) April 5, 2022
Simeone defensive tactics is full force pic.twitter.com/XzOhBk2KJ5
— MB 💫 (@MadridBaIIers) April 5, 2022
Simeone with the 5-5-0 formation #ManCityAtleti pic.twitter.com/Lq21FoQOzm
— soulflows fyneface (@soulflows_F) April 5, 2022
Looks like Atletico Madrid are playing a 5-5-0 formation….proper shithousery tactics from Simeone again😂🤣
— McGreal 1️⃣9️⃣ (@N_Macca74) April 5, 2022
Simeone parked el coche. https://t.co/iAM1mxocHH
— Grace Robertson 🏳️⚧️ (@GraceOnFootball) April 5, 2022
Simeone tactics pic.twitter.com/ju3x6Skiur
— Fah (@CFC_Fah) April 5, 2022
Look simeone, these your tactics are rather becoming too boring and obsolete .
— إبراهيم”5’ Roc da 5 (@ibrahimroc) April 5, 2022
Simeone and his tactics deserve a place in hell😤
— SHÈRU B'ÀWÒN (@ygbgambitt) April 5, 2022
In fairness to the La Liga champions, their tactics seemed to be working, especially in the first half, as the English champions struggled to create much in the way of clear chances.
At the beginning of the second half the visitors even had a few chances on the break, as whatever was said at half time clearly had an impact.
Even with a few more chances for City, it did look for a while like what Atleti were attempting to do was working, and some people were impressed with the tactics.
enjoy jokes about simeone's terrorism as much as the next person but the amount of work & man management it takes to get attacking players like greizmann & joao felix to buy into this system & give everything for the cause is so impressive. also, diversity in tactics is good. https://t.co/4lKHudYnRO
— maybe: xavier (@couldbexav) April 5, 2022
It's like people hate Simeone for having tactics.
— 🦅 (@Ani7ii) April 5, 2022
If attacking football is a style of play and can be employed using tactics to win matches, then you can't blame Simeone for using defensive football and imposing his tactics to win matches
— Xabhi ✪ (@FCB_Lad) April 5, 2022
Can't get my head around people slating Simeone tactics. Personally think it's brilliant management. All players know their role and give their all for him. Proper coach, would love him in the Prem #MCIATL
— Jonno (@J_reilly31) April 5, 2022
All of his players are completely bought into his idea of football, so are the fans.
— Sebastián (@sebascouting) April 5, 2022
He’s created a whole culture and I’m grateful, football needs some variety in styles.
Beats me why people bashing Simeone for having tactics? He's trying his best not to let them score/win and been quite successful so far.
— Gal¡ (@goatcdm) April 5, 2022
People will diss Simeone’s tactics but Atletico are WELLLLL ORGANISED
— Simon Leviev Jr (@str8cashsunny) April 5, 2022
With time ticking away, and Simeone looking set to get the 0-0 draw he wanted to take back to Spain next week, Guardiola was able to change the match with a triple substitution.
The two times Champions League winning manager brought on Jack Grealish, Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden in the 68th minute, and it changed the game.
Just one minute and 20 seconds after coming on, it was Foden who set up Kevin de Bruyne for the only goal of the game.
If they manage to overturn the deficit in the home leg, no Atletico Madrid fans will care how their side played on Tuesday night.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter
Topics: Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone, La Liga, Manchester City, Champions League, Premier League, Pep Guardiola
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