On May 17, 2014, there was a seismic change in Spanish football.
When Diego Godin rose to meet Gabi’s corner, thundering in an unstoppable header to hand Atlético Madrid their first league title since 1996, any lingering doubts over whether to take the Colchoneros seriously were blown away. Despite the sizeable financial disadvantage compared to Barcelona and Real Madrid, Spain had a third force once again.
GETTY
6
Godin heads in the equaliser against Barcelona in May 2014 on a day Atletico Madrid won LaLiga
Those lucky enough to experience that day in the flesh will never forget it, nor Godin’s goal. Only 400 away supporters were allocated tickets, but come full time the entire Camp Nou stadium applauded in support anyway.
There were even chants of ‘Atleti, Atleti’ in acknowledgement of the feat the visitors had pulled off. And on the pitch, crumpled in a heap after 90 minutes of herculean effort, was Godin. The man who got Atleti over the line, both with his equaliser and his heroic defending to keep things level until the end.
Atleti haven’t managed to win another league title since, but they have continued to wedge themselves between Spain’s traditional big two.
Their league record since 2014 is lesser than Barcelona’s, but it is as good as their richer, more lauded city rivals. This season they have split Barcelona and Madrid once again, for a second consecutive year. One league and two silvers in six seasons. The exact same return as Los Blancos have in the same period, and irrefutable evidence that if Madrid are still to be considered a La Liga powerhouse, then so too must Atleti. Godin has been there throughout.
GETTY
6
Along with current Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Godin lies on the pitch at full-time where a 1-1 draw with Barcelona sealed a first league title for Atleti since 1996
He has started throughout, too. At the very beginning, even, playing 90 minutes in the 2012 Europa League final win over Athletic Club that sealed the first trophy of the Diego Simeone era, foreshadowing the further glory that was to come.
Just as he started the Copa del Rey final in 2013, where Atleti beat Madrid for the first time in 14 years. At the Bernabéu, no less. That night broke a collective mental block that was pivotal in pushing Atleti on to their league triumph and further trophies since.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
gossip
Transfer news LIVE: Hazard on joining Real Madrid, Sessegnon to leave Fulham
gossip
Chelsea transfer news live: Hazard addresses Blues fans following Real Madrid move
ALLEZ LES BLEUES
France sweep aside South Korea in opening match of 2019 Women's World Cup
PRICELESS POINT
Late Duffy header keeps Ireland unbeaten in Euro 2020 qualifying campaign
DEAL DONE
Real Madrid confirm Eden Hazard signing to end long-running transfer saga
THANK YOU
These Chelsea fans pour their hearts out for 'true legend' Eden Hazard
in the money
Hazard joins Real Madrid and will reportedly double his wages
LET'S GO
Women's World Cup opening ceremony: The best pictures from the party in Paris
ALL SEEMS REAL
Hazard shirts spotted at Real Madrid shop - number he will wear revealed
Protest
Why Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg is not playing for Norway at the World Cup
gossip
Tottenham transfer news live: Ryan Sessegnon to leave Fulham, Man United 'want' Dier
I'M FUL
Spurs target Ryan Sessegnon reportedly tells Fulham he wants to leave
And in the Europa League final in Lyon, on May 16, 2018, Godin started again. Completing another 90 minutes as usual, his win over Marseille played a part in convincing Antoine Griezmann to reject Barcelona and continue with Atleti last summer, allowing fans to sit back and enjoy the Frenchman’s World Cup win in Russia.
If not for the Uruguay international’s header almost four years to the day before the Lyon final, Atleti may well have struggled to lure Griezmann to the club in the first place. As reigning league champions, the sales pitch to the already impressing young forward – who had no shortage of attractive options even at the time – was made much easier.
Getty
6
Griezmann and Godin became close friends and the defender is godfather to Griezmann’s daughter
The two have become inseparable since. Griezmann is an adopted Uruguayan who made Godin his daughter’s godfather. The forward turned up to Atleti’s last home game of the season at the weekend wearing a Godin shirt, and was profoundly disappointed to lose his friend from the dressing room.
It is no coincidence that only three days after the centre-back said farewell to Atleti, so too did the striker, confirming he will not continue with the Rojiblancos next year.
Getty
6
Godin hugs supporters after his last match for Atleti in what appears to be the end of an era for the club
Along with the Godin, Griezmann joins Lucas Hernández (whose buy-out clause was triggered by Bayern Munich), Juanfran (out of contract) and Filipe Luís (out of contract) in an exit list that can only be seen as an end of an era for Atleti. In the case of the latter duo, diminishing performances mean there is some logic to parting ways, but with Griezmann Atlético may well have sealed their own fate with how they treated their captain and his friend.
Getty
6
In his time at the club Godin has won the league, cup, two Europa Leagues and has been a Champions League runner-up twice
Because Godin’s departure was not inevitable, and there is a sadness about it, inflexible rules not adequately equipped to cope with the exceptional nature of a club legend.
He wanted to stay – his rejection of Manchester United last summer proved that. Atleti were unwavering in sticking to their policy of only offering one-year contract extensions to players over the age of 30 however. Under those terms, he understandably couldn’t sign on the line. His former team-mate and captain Gabi said Atleti should have tripled their offer.
But they didn’t, and so, Godin leaves. Others leave too, but his farewell hurts the most. The only caveat? Despite putting Atleti ahead in Lisbon back in 2014, he leaves without the Champions League trophy, and that will no doubt bother a player with an immense hunger for success.
GETTY
6
Having spent nine years at the club, Godin has become an icon of Atletico Madrid
Yet European Cup or not, he leaves as a true icon, someone synonymous with a particular period. As someone who will be the first player Atleti fans talk about in decades to come when they look back on their era of great Diegos. As someone whose head, feet and willpower changed the makeup of Spanish football. As someone who made the Camp Nou applaud in resignation. Atlético will have a hard task reaching those heady heights again without him.
Jose Mourinho thinks Tottenham could be set for a trophy spree if they win the Champions League against Liverpool. Mauricio Pochettino is yet to win a trophy in charge of Spurs but has inspired a remarkable run to Madrid, including a thrilling comeback against Ajax.
Champions League: Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino
It's almost hard to believe that Fiorentina central midfielder Jordan Veretout has been linked with a transfer to Arsenal in recent weeks. The Frenchman has emerged as a candidate to replace Aaron
Arsenal news: Unai Emery wants former Aston Villa man as
Liverpool's Naby Keita has spoken of his motivation to hit Keita up for the fight in 'tough' Premier League. 'Coutinho welcome back at Liverpool for right price' Do Man Utd have to
Premier League 2018/19: Top 10 signings of the summer so far
Manchester United have a better all-time record between the two teams (W78, D50, L54) The last game between the two ended 2-0 to the Red Devils in the FA Cup in February; Chelsea have only won one out of their last ten games at Old Trafford; Manchester United have not lost four games in a row since December 2015
Chelsea vs Manchester United live streaming: Confirmed Line
Chelsea are planning a move to sign Ajax ace David Neres as they hope their transfer ban will be overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.. Currently the Blues are going to be suspended from making signings for the next two windows but they still believe this could be frozen.
Josep "Pep" Guardiola Sala (Catalan pronunciation: [ʒuˈzɛb ɡwəɾðiˈɔlə]; born 18 January 1971) is a Spanish professional football coach and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Manchester City. One of the most successful managers of all time by honors and trophies won, he is considered to be one of the best managers
Latest James Tavernier #2 news, stats, photos and videos on MSN Sport
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny admits he
Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top goalscorer for the Portugal national football team and has the most international goals among currently active players. As of 25 March 2019, he has scored 85 goals in 156 appearances since his debut on 20 August 2003.
WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo's magnificent performance and
Three defeats in four Premier League matches have altered their outlook from outside contenders for the title to facing a fight to stay in the top four. Form. The point gained from the 1-1 north London derby draw at Wembley Stadium was their only return from matches with Burnley, Chelsea, Arsenal and Southampton.
EPL: Premier League final day, title race, analysis
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, while Chelsea's Eden Hazard is a surprise omission in an XI dominated by Manchester City and Liverpool.
PFA Team of the Year leaked: Eden Hazard misses out but Paul
Tottenham vs Everton predictions: Tottenham line-up A stunning victory over Ajax and Tottenham are now in the Champions League final. They will face Liverpool on the 2nd of June in Madrid in the
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has told talkSPORT he had a feeling this 'special' Reds team would find a way past Barcelona into another Champions League final. Liverpool will have the chance to lift their sixth European Cup after they staged one of the greatest semi-final comebacks in Champions League history - now dubbed the
Gerard Houllier EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool 'had Barcelona running
Man Utd team-mates 'openly joking about Pogba transfer' as Real Madrid chase wantaway World Cup winner The France international was already involved in a bust-up with his team-mates following
Man Utd stars 'openly joking about Pogba transfer' as Real
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Mauricio Pochettino remains tight
Derby All the information you need to catch the big game West Midlands rivals Aston Villa and West Brom go head-to-head today in a huge Championship match and it'll be live on talkSPORT 2. The Baggies are currently ten points ahead of Villa in the table as they continue to push for an automatic promotion […]
Free stream, full coverage and confirmed teams for north
No comments:
Post a Comment