Chapter 521: Torture You to Shit

The Camp Nou stadium at night is brightly lit, as bright as day.

After the players of both teams finished their pre-match warm-up training and returned to their respective locker rooms, Diego Simeone also walked into the player tunnel.

The player passage at Camp Nou is very spacious, with an slanted staircase paved with red marble leading to the team locker room at the end.

The passage is lined with detailed wallpaper featuring portraits of Barcelona's first-team players.

When Diego Simeone saw this, he couldn't help but snort coldly.

“Why not put the portrait on the steps?”

What I mean is, this way, I can step on all of you, right?

Walking up the stairs step by step, listening to the tsunami-like sound of the Camp Nou stadium outside, Simeone's mind opened up, and he couldn't help but think back to a week ago, when he met the team owner Yang Huan at the Majadaenda training base, just the day after the game against Real Madrid.

After arriving in Europe, he served three bosses, all at Atletico Madrid.

One is former Chairman Cerezo and Mr. Hill Jr. Both of them are very calculating and ambitious, but lack courage. They are hesitant and always think about how to spend less money, or even no money, and do big things directly.

There is another boss whose surname is Qin and Qian.

These two idiots are football blind. They don't understand football at all and are simply incapable of playing professional football.

But they are rich!

There is no doubt that among the three bosses he has ever had, Yang Huan is the one who understands football the best and is the richest.

But more importantly, he understands people!

When Simeone pointed out the various hidden dangers of the team, Yang Huan did not find a lot of excuses to prevaricate like Cerezo and Hill did in the past, or even talk about the team's difficulties with a bitter face.

At the same time, he was not like the two football idiots named Qin and Qian, who knew nothing and had no idea where to start.

He just asked, what do you want?

After that, there is the blueprint planned by Simeone himself, such as further improving the team's tactics, with the focus on refining operations in local areas, which can effectively reduce the physical consumption of the players.

Another aspect is to improve the depth of the team's bench.

Simeone proposed that he hopes to recall Koke back to Atletico Madrid.

After the Spanish midfielder went to Southampton half a year ago, he was mostly rotated in, but at Atletico Madrid, Simeone intends to entrust Koke with important tasks.

Because he knows Cork, and Cork knows him!

Yang Huan also admitted that his decision half a year ago was wrong, so he agreed to Simeone's request.

So, with a phone call, Koke will return to Atletico Madrid during the winter break.

But Simeone obviously still feels that it is not enough. He wants to further improve the team's bench depth and lineup, especially the midfield.

The core midfielder Gabi is already 30 years old. In Simeone's view, Illarramendi is the most suitable successor.

But this does not mean that Illarramendi's target is Gabi. On the contrary, in Simeone's eyes, Illarramendi has great potential and hope to surpass Gabi.

The overall strength level of Atletico Madrid's current main players is not very high. Even players like Miranda, Godin, Turan, Gabi and others can only be substitutes if they are placed in first-tier giants.

It's just like Gravesen, who was the core of Moyes' Everton. He was so glorious and honorable in the Premier League, but after coming to Real Madrid, he still couldn't stand firm.

But if Atletico Madrid wants to maintain its top three position in the league and keep its Champions League qualification, it needs not only short-term planning but also a long-term perspective.

Gabi is thirty, Miranda is twenty-nine, and Felipe and Juanfran are both twenty-eight.

Yes, these players are now in their prime and at the peak of their careers, but how long can they maintain it?

With Atletico Madrid's tactics that consume so much energy, it would be good if they can last two or three years.

What about two or three years later?

To be more cold-blooded and ruthless, from a realistic point of view, in the long run, Atletico Madrid's tactics are not sustainable, and players such as Gabi, Miranda, Turan, Suarez and others will only become a transition for the team.

Use their sacrifice to lay a solid foundation for the future rise of Atletico Madrid!

If Atletico Madrid wants to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona in the La Liga in the future, it cannot rely on them.

Who can we rely on for that?

Relying on Koke, Illarramendi, Diego Costa, Tevez, Mandzukic, Griezmann and Courtois!

In other words, Atletico Madrid has to introduce a group of high-quality young players to supplement the team's lineup.

This requires a process and also requires the team management to plan ahead!

Otherwise, the team's performance will definitely be affected and there will be turmoil.

Just like the Bundesliga's big yellow team Dortmund, Simeone can guarantee that this team will undergo a major reshuffle within three years.

Can Atletico Madrid, whose average age is higher than Dortmund, not plan ahead?

Simeone's words successfully convinced Master Huan, who immediately expressed his full support for Simeone's plan.

Unlike other bosses, Cerezo and Hill Jr. used to say this often, but as soon as they turned around and returned to the Calderon Stadium, they immediately started arguing.

Either they think the players Simeone likes are too expensive, or the players they recommend are too weak.

There is no other way. Now is the information age. If you really want good quality and low price, you may be lucky once or twice. But is it possible to do this all the time?

But this time, Master Huan was obviously different.

As soon as he returned to the Calderon Stadium, Master Huan immediately called Soriano and others to a meeting. At the same time, he activated the scouting systems of Atletico Madrid and Southampton to draw up a list based on Simeone's requirements.

Simeone originally thought it would take a long time, but two days later, after the Europa League game, the list and detailed information, as well as the players' videos were all placed in front of Simeone.

This made Simeone almost drop his jaw!

Finally, after Simeone finalized the list, Begiristain, who was in charge of the team's transfer operations, left Madrid the next day.

Just yesterday, after Begiristain returned to Madrid, he immediately gave Simeone a satisfactory answer.

During the winter break, Atletico Madrid will recall Cork from Southampton and introduce Saints' youth player Markovic.

This player is highly appreciated by Bielsa, but in the Saints, who currently have a lot of talented wingers, it is currently difficult for Markovic to get opportunities. On the contrary, he may have more opportunities after coming to Atletico Madrid.

But this is just the beginning of a team reorganization to become younger.

In the summer of 2013, Atletico Madrid will introduce the Dutch young player Krassi, who is known as the little Davis and little Xavi, from Feyenoord for 6 million euros.

But just these two nicknames are enough to make people clearly aware of the strength and potential of this 21-year-old Dutch youngster. He has performed well in the Dutch league for three consecutive seasons and has now joined the Dutch national team, where he is highly valued by Van Gaal.

Another transfer came from Felipe Anderson from Santos in Brazil. He is 19 years old and is currently performing well in the Brazilian league. Atletico Madrid spent a high price of 8 million euros to successfully win him.

Both Crassi and Felipe Anderson were chosen by Simeone as part of the team's reorganization towards rejuvenation!

That leaves Courtois, Peruzzi, Jose Gaya, Illarramendi, Koke, Crassi, Salvio, Griezmann, Markovic and Felipe Anderson.

Atletico Madrid has as many as ten players born in the 1990s. In addition, local youth players such as Saul and Oliver Torres are also performing quite well. Simeone's youth restructuring strategy can be implemented smoothly.

In addition, there are a group of players in their prime who are in their twenties and twenties, such as Diego Costa, Godin, Juanfran, Felipe, Turan, Suarez, Mandzukic, as well as veterans such as Miranda and Gabi.

Now the first-team lineup of the Bed Sheets Army is an ideal combination of old, middle-aged and young players.

Not only that, Yang Huan even made a promise that in the transfer market next summer, Atletico Madrid can sign anyone Simeone likes and thinks is suitable. Even if the transfer fee is less than 10 million euros, the club can decide for itself!

This is equivalent to giving Simeone and the management considerable financial and transfer rights!

Ten million euros. In one summer, how many transactions in the European transfer market are worth more than ten million euros?

He is very rich and powerful. Too rich and powerful, isn’t he?

Compared with the former losers Cerezo and Little Hill, and the nouveau riche Qin Qian, Master Huan is really awesome!

Whenever he thought of this, Simeone couldn't help but feel excited.

An excitement that makes you want to shout to the whole world and make everyone turn their attention to you!

He knew that everyone in Atletico Madrid had this desire!

Even the fans of the Colchoneros have the same desire!

"This sound is very pleasant, isn't it?"

A voice came from behind.

Simeone turned around and saw Barcelona's head coach Vilanova walking in from the player tunnel with a smile on his face.

The head coach, who was under tremendous pressure when he took office but successfully established himself as Barcelona coach through a series of victories and the best start ever, is indescribably confident at this moment.

"What did you say?" Simone didn't quite understand.

Vilanova smiled and pointed to the entrance to the player tunnel below, "The fans outside are shouting a slogan."

Simeone raised his eyebrows and thought, Damn, is he trying to mock us?

"We love you, Mourinho, please stay!" Vilanova laughed.

Simeone was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

How deep must the hatred be to ridicule Mourinho like this?

However, Mourinho can be considered a success as he was ridiculed by more than 90,000 Barcelona fans at Camp Nou!

Oh, by the way, the first time Vilanova became known to fans all over the world seemed to be because of his conflict with Mourinho.

"Although Mourinho said that being fourteen points behind can no longer threaten us, I still think that we cannot be careless and let our guard down. What do you think?" Vilanova looked at Simeone with a smile.

This man spoke very politely, but his eyes showed a determination to win.

It can be seen that he is eager to prove himself, otherwise, he would not have resolutely chosen the former and abandoned the latter between the Barcelona executives and his good friend Guardiola half a year ago.

And now, if he wants to continue his magical performance since the start, he has to defeat Atletico Madrid!

Simeone is not someone who can be easily messed with. He is a very cunning and sinister guy.

After hearing what Vilanova said, I couldn't help but curl my lips and laughed.

"Then you better sprint faster, otherwise it will be pointless for us to chase you!"

After he finished speaking, Simone laughed again, "Oh, and, they always say we are rough and direct, but I think we will be a little gentle tonight. I'm afraid you won't be able to bear it!"

Only then did Simeone walk up with a smile.

But in my heart I was thinking fiercely, if I don’t beat the shit out of you tonight, I’m going to kill you!

Vilanova stared at Simeone's back, curled his lips with a sneer, and wanted to overtake, but there was no way!

“This is Camp Nou!”