After a last-minute equaliser from debutante Borja Garces saved their blushes against Eibar at the Wanda Metropolitano, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid already find themselves seven points behind leaders Barcelona.
Unlike last season, something hasn’t clicked so far in 2018/19, which, when you consider how easily they outplayed neighbours Real Madrid in the European Super Cup, is something of a conundrum.
For the first time in a very long time Simeone was whistled by a fan base that adore him, but they clearly didn’t agree with his 71st minute substitution of Rodri, or other inplay decisions.
The coach identified after the game that he is paid to make such decisions and, given that it was Garces who earned the Rojiblancos a point, Simeone was proved correct.
As passionate as they come on the touchline, the Argentinian suggested that perhaps those that sit and watch don’t live the game in the same way he does, nor see it in the same way.
That’s as maybe, but they’re well within their rights to make their voices heard when their team are underperforming, which is exactly what’s happening at the moment.
Eibar had set up to attack with a 4-2-3-1 formation but they rarely threatened in truth.
It made Atleti’s inability to break them down all the more frustrating.
Diego Costa and Antoine Griezmann, who dovetailed so expertly in the second half of last season, are really struggling to reignite that particular relationship, whilst Thomas Lemar, despite being regularly started by Simeone, was anonymous yet again.
It took a Sergi Enrich opener on 87 minutes to thrust this game into life, and even before Garces’ last-kick-of-the-game leveller, Diego Godin had seen his shot ping back off of the post.
Clearly, that’s nowhere near good enough for a club that has genuine aspirations of success in both the Champions League and La Liga.
Unless they get their act together quickly in the latter, they can kiss that title goodbye for another season.
As for Europe, Simeone will not want to go tumbling out at the group stages again, but on current form that has to be a concern.
Should he be really worried?
At this stage of the season, there’s still plenty to play for and he’s seen the Rojiblancos through worst crises than this. The issue is perhaps one of confidence as Atleti looked completely devoid of it at times on Saturday afternoon.
A change or two to the starting XI could be in the offing, but in the meantime Simeone at least deserves the respect of those who’ve taken it upon themselves to boo their most successful coach of recent times.
