Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been linked to every Chelsea vacancy for years. What if he finally arrived at the club?
Since taking charge way back in 2011, Simeone has turned Atletico Madrid from a club that was basically the La Liga equivalent to Everton into one that was just below the big two of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Even beyond that, he has made the side capable of pushing both (and beating both) to several trophies. The same happened in Europe.
Since his appointment in 2011, Chelsea has gone through six managerial changes. And nearly every single time (the early sacking of Roberto Di Matteo and departure of Rafa Benitez), Simeone has been linked to Chelsea. It is a guarantee, if Frank Lampard ever leave Stamford Bridge, that Simeone will be linked once again.
But what if Chelsea had already pulled that trigger? What if the Blues had hired Simeone in 2016, perhaps the time it was closest of all? How would the Chelsea team look now?
It is perhaps best to start with why Simeone probably has not become manager (yet?). His style is seen as gritty and unappealing. It works, and it works well, but it rarely gets anyone off their seats. Of course, that was what Chelsea was known for for a long while, but every managerial change comes with a vocal group of fans demanding “beautiful football”.
So that would cause an initial hurdle. Chelsea fans would be supportive initially regardless, but Simeone would already be starting with a shorter leash in 2016 compared to even Antonio Conte.
Simeone’s first task would be to refit the squad into his desired 4-4-2. Conte is himself a big fan of the formation, but he only used it sparingly because Chelsea seemingly did not have the right players to make it work. Simeone tries more aggressively, but it becomes clear early in the 2016/2017 season that he is missing the required pieces as well as he settles on a 4-2-3-1 until the right transfers can happen.
He does unlock Diego Costa into beast mode and he manages to allow Eden Hazard a freer role in a more central position, flanked by Pedro and Willian either side. Overall, Chelsea flourishes defensively under Simeone but there is a sense that the lack of attacking flair is weighing on the fans and the players after the Jose Mourinho fallout the season prior.
Simeone’s Blues finish in fourth that season by the skin of their teeth. Hazard pushes for a move that summer as a rework of the club begins to occur. Many players leave and many come in to reshape the squad more into Simeone’s image. Some youth make the cut, but not many as the transfer funds are allowed to flow.
The following season things improve, but Simeone’s Chelsea lags behind Manchester City and Liverpool. It appears the Argentine has traded one duopoly for another. The main difference is in cup performances where Chelsea remains dominant. The Blues push deep into the Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup, failing only in the final of the former.
Simeone only lasts one more season after that. He was never able to turn his massive rework of the squad into a Premier League title. The football on the pitch does not appeal enough to justify extending his contract further and he is allowed to leave at the end of the 2018/2019 season with a few cups in his cabinet, but not the ones Chelsea really wanted to be in for.
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