Back to Basics! Simeone Reveals Two Key Strategies for Atletico Against Inter, Highlighting Crucial Elements for Nerazzurri's Success

Last night, the football world was abuzz with talk of Messi. Starting around 6-7 PM, I received numerous invitations from portals and former colleagues to join groups or write features emphasizing emotions over politics, leaving me struggling to find polite excuses to decline. Navigating the complexities of the football world can be challenging, and some issues are hard to avoid even after repeated refusals. As a fan of a non-glamorous league (Serie A) and a non-top-tier team (Inter Milan), and as a blogger more familiar with players like Zanetti, Cruz, Milito, and Lautaro, I find myself ill-suited to discuss the legendary Messi. Let's focus instead on another Argentinean figure who has been highly discussed in the Inter circles over the past 24 hours: Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone.

Simeone, accompanied by Koke, held a pre-match press conference where he, like Simone Inzaghi, spoke at length. He praised Inter, stating they are of "top 4-5 European standard in competitions" and mentioned that if he could steal one Inter player, it would be goalkeeper Sommer. He also remarked that Lautaro Martinez’s decision to join Inter instead of Atletico was the right choice, given that he is an Argentine international.

Among his many comments, one statement stood out and was emphasized by numerous Italian media tacticians: “In the last game, we had only 28% possession, but we won 5-0. In Sevilla, we had high possession but lost. In modern football, if your players can win duels, you can perform at a high level. So, the most important thing in tomorrow's match is to be more incisive.”

In their recent 5-0 victory over Las Palmas, a team in the top eight of La Liga, Atletico Madrid had only half the number of passes (331) compared to their opponent. According to OPTA, their overall possession was about 35%, and during the first 62 minutes, when they established a four-goal lead, their possession was under 30%. Conversely, in their previous two matches against Athletic Bilbao (Copa del Rey) and Sevilla (La Liga), Atletico had possession rates of 62% and 70% respectively, with total pass counts between 600-700, yet lost both matches 1-0.

Many analysts have noted that Atletico has been transitioning from their historical "iron-clad defense and sharp counterattacks" to a style focused on possession and offense. This is true, but not entirely. While Atletico frequently records possession rates of 60-70%, it is crucial to understand that their strategy varies significantly between home and away games and against strong and weak opponents.

This season, Atletico’s notable matches include a 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in La Liga Round 6 (37% possession), a 2-1 win against Real Sociedad in Round 9 (38% possession), a 0-1 loss to Barcelona in Round 15 (42% possession), a 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 (41% possession), and a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in Round 23 (46% possession). These results demonstrate that even while adopting a possession-based style, Atletico has not forgotten how to play "press-and-counterattack" football, and they often perform stronger with this approach.

In highlighting these points before the match against Inter, Simeone is revealing two key strategies: not prioritizing possession and focusing on winning duels. Emphasizing the importance of regaining possession is a clear indication of planning to launch quick counterattacks after winning the ball.

Sky Italia pundits, previewing the Atletico vs. Inter clash, particularly mentioned the return of Morata from injury. Some experts believe that if Simeone starts Morata, it might be beneficial for Inter, even with Acerbi injured. Conversely, if Simeone pairs Griezmann with Llorente, it could pose more difficulties for Inter, as Llorente’s style as a "ball-winning forward" could see Atletico playing a stickier, more tenacious game, which they tend to excel at.

On the Inter side, Simone Inzaghi brought Marcus Thuram to the pre-match press conference, highlighting his emphasis on "transitions." Thuram has performed better in big matches this season because he excels when opponents dominate possession and push forward, creating space for him to exploit. However, Atletico may not play into Inter’s hands as Inzaghi hopes.

Inter’s coach and players are well aware of this dynamic, as they repeatedly stressed words like focus, concentration, commitment, and intensity in the press conference. This highlights that Inter sees the keys to victory as minimizing errors and reducing Atletico’s chances to launch fast breaks. This high-stakes match is set to be a tactical battle of "containment and counter-containment."

Both coaches have clear strategies, and it remains to be seen who will succeed. The eagerly awaited showdown promises to be a thrilling contest of tactics and determination.