Sir Alex Ferguson was once famously quoted as saying that “the attack gives you matches, but the defence gives you titles”. This widespread saying has slowly turned into a cliché, used by managers and journalists from all around the world, in various team sports.
Taking a quick glance at the top five European football leagues’ tables, you may notice that the team with the best defence figures sits on the second place of La Liga standings, eight points away from the top.
This team is Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid.
Since Cholo’s arrival, the Rojiblancos have emerged as a footballing force, both inside and outside the Spanish football borders. Under the Argentine’s management Atlético have won five trophies in four seasons.
January’s elimination from Copa Del Rey by Celta Vigo, left Atletico competing for two titles this season. The team from Galicia can be proud of being the only team in Europe which have scored three goals against Cholo’s powerful defence.
Only Benfica and Barcelona have marked a brace against Atlético so far, with the Blaugrana being their main title challengers in both Champions League and La Liga.
Atletico’s Catalan competitors, with the likes of the ‘MSN’ trio bursting the oppositions’ nets, are considered as the ultimate favorites to lift the domestic and European titles.
Having been defeated both home and away by Luis Enrique’s squad, Atletico seem like their domestic fortunes do not lay any more on their hands. With 11 games to go in La Liga, however, hope is still alive for the Rojiblancos.
Atletico’s ‘Die Hard’ spirit, along with the players’ ambitions can lead the club all the way to the trophy.
And yet, Simeone has something to count on. This is nothing else but the meanest defence in Europe at the moment.
Atlético has only conceded 11 goals, being the only team in the history of La Liga to mark these numbers after 27 games.
Moreover, Jan Oblak has managed to secure 18 clean sheets, 10 of which away from Madrid, being unbeaten in an admirable 66,67% of Atlético’s games, subsequently threatening Super Depor’s record in 1993-94 with 26 clean sheets in 38 matches.
According to Marca, the Slovenian ‘portero’ is the best goalkeeper in the top5 major leagues, conceding 0.41 goals per game. In addition, Oblak sees his numbers becoming even better inside the borders, securing 0.67 clean sheets per game.
The Slovenian international is, however, just the icing on the top of Simeone’s football cake. His team has enhanced Cholo’s philosophy of presenting a compact ensemble between the four lines.
Although Oblak’s numbers are impressive, Atlético lean on their talented backbone, consisting of intelligent individuals like Diego Godin, Koke, Gabi and Antoine Griezmann.
According to Squawka statistics, Godin can be considered as the best defender in La Liga at the moment, appearing at the top of the website’s performance list along with his counterpart Filipe Luis.
The two defenders count a combined number of 326 duels won, with Filipe Luis managing 60% in successful tackles and take-ons, comfortably sitting on the top of both lists.
In the midfield, Koke and Gabi, orchestrate the team’s symphony in an extraordinary manner. The Atlético captains’ composure provides his teammates with an appealing tranquility. Each of them produce an 82% pass completion rate per game and a combined zero defensive errors’ figure.
While Simeone directs the team’s performance from the dugout, his concertmaster is assigned to lead his counterparts on the pitch.
Atlético’s ‘first violin’ could not be someone else but Griezmann. Cholo has been adamant that his football relies on each player’s contribution, throughout the 90 minutes and the Frenchman is no exception.
In contrary, Griezmann has made the most out of the opportunity that has been given to him. Despite his 14 goals, 40 key passes and two assists in La Liga, his defensive contribution is also remarkable.
The French international is the best ‘defensive-forward’ in the league counting 30 interceptions, two blocked shots and 24 clearances in 27 games.
Atlético’s defence begins from the attack, asphyxiating their rivals and providing the team with the opportunity of counter-attacking their opponents straight after regaining possession.
With 11 games remaining, Atletico will deplete their chances of winning the title keeping a close eye on Barcelona.
With the Rojiblancos breathing down their neck, the Catalans have to overcome the obstacles of Villareal (away), Real Madrid (home), Real Sociedad (away) and Deportivo (away).
Meanwhile, Atlético’s program is slightly easier if they manage to defeat Gary Neville’s struggling Valencia side on Sunday.
Although Barca can be considered as big-time favorites in La Liga, the Champions League is a whole different story.
While Blaugrana have a 2-0 advantage against Arsenal and seem a mere certainty to progress to the quarter finals, Atlético has to produce a solid performance in at home against PSV, in order to clinch qualification in the next round.
Once again, the team’s defence gave them the upper hand in the first leg away from home.
Atletico enjoys the third best defence in the Champions League, conceding 3 goals in 7 matches. Despite Oblak managing to record five clean sheets for his team, Godin has stolen the show with his performances.
The 30-year-old Uruguayan international recently spoke to UEFA, after helping his team secure 13 clean sheets in his 24 games in the competition.
Atlético are the bookmakers’ fifth favorites to win the Champions League and those odds are not likely to shorten if they advance to the next round.
Simeone’s orchestra has to produce five more strong performances to reach the final. They are widely perceived as underdogs in both La Liga and the Champions League races. Nevertheless, there is no other team in both competitions that could possibly be more intrigued by this fact.
As Godin stated in his interview for UEFA’s website: “It’s all about team work.”
Atlético Madrid have the mentality that the whole team defend, that the whole team work hard to succeed in marking players and not letting opponents get close to goal and score.
“That’s the strength we have which gives us positive results and means we play and do better,” Godin said.
“Then obviously individual performances go hand in hand with the performance of the whole team – special individual efforts from our goalkeeper through to our striker Griezmann.”
Simeone has inculcated the ‘All for one, One for all’ philosophy to his team; an attitude that could almost certainly win titles.
It now remains to be seen if Atlético can put flesh on the bones of the cliché ‘the attack wins matches, the defense wins titles’.
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