Simeone's Atlético, a mirror for Italy according to Lahm
Philipp Lahm, a Bayern Munich legend, has praised Diego Simeone’s Atlético de Madrid in a recent opinion column, highlighting the Rojiblancos as a role model for Italian teams looking to regain their prominence in Europe.
Lahm, after analyzing the Bayern-Inter Milan tie, reflects on the current state of Italian football, pointing to a lack of intensity, commitment, and athletic ability compared to other European leagues such as Spanish, English, French, and German.
The former Bavarian captain laments that Italian teams have lost dynamism and competitiveness, which is reflected in the absence of world-class players like Baggio, Del Piero, or Maldini. However, Lahm offers a solution inspired by Simeone’s Atlético de Madrid.
He recalls the 2016 Champions League tie, where Atlético eliminated Bayern with relentless intensity over 180 minutes. Lahm emphasizes that defensive football can still be successful, but it must be combined with recovery power, constant activity in possession, and a relentless spirit of conquest and attack, in the Simeone style. Ultimately, for Lahm, Italy should play like Atlético, learning from the passion and commitment that characterize Cholo’s team.
