Argentine Diego “Cholo” Simeone arrived as coach of Altético de Madrid for the 2011 season and in 12 seasons at the helm of the Spanish squad he played in 4 European finals, two in the Champions League and two in the Europa League.
In 2012, they won their first continental competition, lifting the Europa League against Athletic Club Bilbao, a feat they repeated in 2018 against Olympique de Marseille. However, in 2014 and 2016, the Colchoneros lost two finals in Europe’s top club competition against their eternal city rival, Real Madrid.
Recently in a radio interview cope of Spain the coach revealed the mistake he made in the first Champions League final, which cost him losing that final in Lisbon.
During the interview, Simeone was asked about his best and worst decision in football. The best one states that it was “returning to Atlético”, while the answer regarding the worst decision was a little more specific. “Having replaced Raúl García instead of Adrián López in the 2014 Champions League final,” the Argentine released.
Cholo remembers this decision very accurately, as he affirms that it cost him the Champions League that year, but what exactly is he referring to?
Atlético won the final against Real Madrid from minute 35 with a goal from Diego Godín. In fraction 66, the strategist of the Colchonero team decided to give José Sosa entry for Raúl García. At this point, Madrid was completely dominating the game, against an Atlético team that was already showing physical fatigue.
Ancelotti’s men were hanging a lot of balls into the area and the tie came at 90+3 thanks to a Sergio Ramos header. Already in extra time and with a physical liquidated team, Madrid ended up placing a final score of 4-1.
However, Simeone still remembers this change of retiring Raúl García instead of Adrián 9 years later and points to it as the worst decision of his coaching career.
Keep reading:
Karim Benzema rejects Saudi Arabia for Real Madrid: He wants to go through the front door
· PSG denies its coach and affirms that he “expressed himself badly” about Messi and his last game
· Cristiano Ronaldo confirms that he will continue at Al Nassr and invites the great football stars to play in Saudi Arabia