Will Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone’s marriage finally break after 12 years? The latter delivers a possible hint

Atletico Madrid's 12-year-old bond with Diego Simeone might break finally at the end of this season, which is 16 points behind Barcelona in La Liga.

Will Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone’s marriage finally break after 12 years? The latter delivers a possible hint

Diego Simeone instructing his players. (Image via Getty Images)

After placing last in their group in the Champions League, Atletico Madrid were initially eliminated. Furthermore, a poor La Liga campaign has them tied for fourth, 16 points behind league champions Barcelona and 10 points behind Real. After Real Madrid defeated Atletico 3-1 on Thursday in the quarterfinal, the latter doesn’t even have the Copa del Rey to play for. Atletico executives are allegedly planning to replace Simeone with ousted Spain manager Luis Enrique. While learning Spanish, former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel is also vying for a top position in La Liga.

However, Simeone has stoked the fire by acknowledging that Atletico’s fate, who has nothing left to play for, depends on how they “finish the season.” “My contract depends a lot on how we finish the club. Every season finale, we get together to see how we continue. This year will not be the exception. It is more complex than what you suggest. You will find out when the season ends what will happen,” he said.

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The surprising revelation about the split between Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone came after the Argentine was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Real Madrid this week. Simeone, 52, has been the capital club’s manager since December 2011, after spending five years as a player there. During his tenure as manager, Atletico Madrid has won two league crowns, two Europa Leagues, and two Copa del Reys, as well as reaching two Champions League finals.

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Simeone joined Atletico in 2011 and played for the team twice, from 1994 to 1997 and then from 2003 to 2005. Currently, he is the manager with the longest tenure in La Liga. However, it now seems that his long affiliation with the capital club may end shortly. While sitting fourth in the league is hardly the end of the world, being outplayed tactically is something that will worry the pentaganerian.

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Joao Felix has been a strange match for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, but his immense potential is only waiting to be discovered

Benfica’s wonder-kid could not achieve his full potential at Atletico Madrid and will attempt to do so in the future. (Image via Getty Images)

Joao Felix was seen as a future superstar when he arrived at Benfica’s academy from Porto at age 15. “You could immediately notice his brilliance,” former Benfica scout Jean-Claude Abeddou tells Sky Sports. He cited Simeone as a key reason for his choice to join Atletico Madrid, with the teenager enthused by his past success with Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa, and Radamel Falcao.

Joao Felix has mostly played on the left side of an Atletico Madrid front two. While Simeone regards Joao Felix’s application as a problem – and his off-the-ball work would undoubtedly need to improve in the Premier League – others who have worked closely with him regard his attitude and approach as virtues. “Despite his outward look, Joao has a strong spirit buried beneath his shy behavior and refuses to be stepped on,” Abeddou explains.

“The ball is precious,” he told The Players’ Tribune during his breakout season with Benfica at 19. There is still time for him to realize the Ballon d’Or-winning potential that his previous coaches see in him. Then there’s his record at Atletico, which demonstrates his ability to influence games, although not at the level most expected when he arrived. He scores or assists once every 138 minutes played.

So far, in 651 minutes of La Liga games, there have been four goals and three assists. He is among the top seven players in the division in terms of big chances created per 90 minutes (0.78), shots on target per 90 minutes (1.66), and through-balls completed per 90 minutes (1.66). He would be considerably more likely to obtain all of that at Chelsea, who average 60% possession and aim to force themselves on their opponents, albeit with various degrees of success.