Diego Simeone has revived Atlético and given Real the rival they crave but a poor season after the loss of several key players in the summer threatens to derail his projectDiego Simeone was the making of the Madrid rivalry; now, it could be the breaking of him. That, at least, is the way some have framed this match and, while suggestions that he could be on the edge are wildly exaggerated, while fans and board have backed him, Atlético Madrid’s manager is under greater pressure that at any point since he took over eight years ago. For the first time, the feeling lingers that his era – and it is his era – may be edging towards the end; for the first time, there are questions raised about their very own Che Guevara, a victim perhaps of the expectations he created, the revolution he led.
![Simeone facing Madrid derby that may make or break him at Atlético | Sid Lowe](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2b7a18fe4a36a8f3f23b1d5973e35400f6219573/0_67_1751_1051/master/1751.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=b97542d0e9a2e14b1c9aca5cdfc474aa)
“That [criticism] doesn’t depend on me; what depends on me is producing a great match tomorrow,” Simeone said on Friday. “I will go to the Santiago Bernabéu with the same enthusiasm as ever.” For some, though, that enthusiasm has waned, concern taking its place. “What I think of Diego Simeone hasn’t changed: he’s one of the best managers in the world,” the
Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, had insisted an hour or so earlier. Although Zidane replied “no” when he was asked whether he understood people criticising and doubting Simeone, the very fact that he was even asked was significant.