Atleti: The Cup as a lifeline
Atlético de Madrid is focusing all its energy on the Cup to rescue the season. After a hesitant start and a brilliant period between October and January, the team has experienced a worrying decline in La Liga.
Eliminated from the Champions League and far from the league leadership, the Copa del Rey is presented as the only tangible goal for Los Rojiblancos. The performance in the second half of La Liga has been particularly disappointing, moving the team away from the top spots.
Now, Atleti faces the challenge of overcoming Barcelona in the Copa semi-finals. The return match is presented as an anticipated final, where the team must show its best version to reach the final in Seville on April 26.
Simeone has put all his eggs in one basket, conveying to his players the importance of this tournament. Atlético, with ten cup titles in its history, longs to reconquer a trophy that has resisted for twelve years, when Miranda sealed the victory against Real Madrid. Winning the Cup would not only save the season, but also represent a crucial boost and the possibility of participating in the next Club World Cup. The road to Neptuno inevitably passes through the Cup.
