A time to look back…and forward.
When sitting down to analyse this years’ edition of La Liga,
I was unsure where to begin. Do we look
at the dethroning of the traditional Clasico superpowers? Do we look at the triumph of hard work and
spirit as demonstrated by the excellent Simeone and his Atletico side? Do we – and this is could well be the follow
up to Graham Hunters excellent book Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in
the World – review the struggles of FC Barcelona following Pep’s departure and
the end of tika-taka.
As suggested in previous dispatches, this very much looks to
be the end of an era for Barcelona, with Tata Martino having confirmed his
expected departure from the club with ex-player and former Celta Vigo manager,
Luis Enrique set to take over the reins in the summer.
This La Liga season has been one for the underdog. One of tactical nous and organisation over
flowing beauty and grace. Atleti’s
winning spirit and die hard attitude, embodied by the aforementioned Diego
Simeone, hasn’t always been one for the purists but has been one for the connoisseurs
of courage, determination and hard work.
It has been one for serial loanee, Diego Costa, to finally show in true
Ian Wright style, that sometimes it’s ok to show up late for the party. It has taken Costa until the age of 25 to
show his promise and boy has he taken his chance well. Having seen himself behind Sergio Aguero,
Diego Forlan, and more recently Falcao in the Atletico pecking order, he has
taken his chance to prove himself after persuading Simeone that he was the man
for the job. 35 goals in 42 games later,
Diego Costa has repaid his bosses faith.
He shares many characteristics with his Manager; he plays with a fire in
his belly and has the knack of winding up his opponents. He is also not afraid of confrontation, as
Sergio Ramos and John Terry will tell you.
Sly off the ball nudges, a bit of discreet treading on the toes, Costa
has learned his trade as a Centre Forward and is coveted by some of Europe’s
top clubs, as well as having chosen to represent Spain in this summer’s FIFA
World Cup ahead of his native Brazil.
Their last day title win at the Camp Nou is already historic
with Atletico Madrid being the only away team ever to have won the title at
Barcelona. This last day performance was
the season encapsulated in 90 minutes.
Barcelona, play well and go 1-0 up through an excellent Alexis Sanchez
goal. Atleti equalise through a Diego
Godin header from a corner. 1-1. Atletico defend stoutly – albeit with some
slices of good fortune – and win their first title since the double winning
side of 1996. Cue big celebrations in
central Madrid with a parade to rival that of Arsenals hours before in London
after the North London club picked up their first trophy in nine years. The big job now is to prevent La Decima for
arch rivals Real. The Champions League
Final in Lisbon is the first European Cup final between two clubs from the same
city - and although Costa and the very influential Arda Turan are doubts - it
will prove to be a titanic contest.
It is yet to be seen if Atletico can stop Real Madrid from
winning a record breaking 10th European Cup success, or whether they
can withstand the almost inevitable departure of Costa to Chelsea, but one thing
is for sure, this was a Liga title thoroughly deserved by Los Colchoneros. Their legions of fans hanging on every word
from Simeone in his press conferences, their obeying his every wish inside the
daunting Vicente Calderon Stadium, the players battling for every ball, playing
their hardest until the very last kick on match day 38 in the Camp Nou, this
was a real collaborative effort, a victory for all associated with the club,
and in this age of Billionaire owners, this made Atletico’s achievements this
season feel very special indeed.
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